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HANDBOOK OF 
PARLIAMENTARY LAW 



A COMPLETE SYLLABUS OF RULES OF ORDER 
WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES, DIRECTIONS FOR 
THE STUDY OF PARLIAMENTARY LAW, REVIEW 
QUESTIONS, AND USABLE GRAPHIC AND DIA- 
GRAMMATIC CLASSIFICATIONS OF MOTIONS 



BY 



F. M. GREGG 



ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AND TEACHER OF 

PARLIAMENTARY LAW IN THE NEBRASKA STATE 

NORMAL SCHOOL, PERU, NEBRASKA 



GINN AND COMPANY 

BOSTON • NEW YORK • CHICAGO • LONDON 



y 






r «* 



Copyright, 1910 
By F. M. GREGG 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



8IO.I 



GINN AND COMPANY • PRO- 
PRIETORS • BOSTON • U.S.A. 



(SHI A9SfiR«fi 



PREFACE 

In democratic America, where so many assemblies are held 
in professional, political, and industrial circles, it is demanded 
that every one should have some knowledge of the rules by 
which such bodies are to be governed. 

To aid both learner and practitioner there are a number of 
manuals of parliamentary law, but the present one differs from 
them in the following respects. 

a. It is complete, systematic, and concise in its presentation of 
rules and principles. 

b. It supplies an abundance of the forms of expression suit- 
able to be employed in parliamentary practice. 

c. A syllabus is provided that furnishes the parliamentarian 
of some experience all the information he needs, freed from any 
needless verbiage of explanation. 

d. Explanatory notes are given in a distinct portion of the 
book for the full information of the less experienced. 

e. It provides an easily mastered graphic index that will in 
itself, and on a single page, answer over four hundred parlia- 
mentary questions. 

f. A system of thumb indexing makes its information readily 
accessible, — a matter of great moment to one presiding over an 
impatient assembly. 

g. Full directions are given for successfully conducting a club 
or class for the study of parliamentary law. 

h. A list of a hundred review questions is given to aid those 
who make use of the book in schools and colleges. 

More than ten years of experience in teaching parliamentary 
law to students in normal schools has confirmed the compiler of 



iv PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

this manual in the conviction that the order in which the various 
motions are here taken up is both more logical and more peda- 
gogical than the order of presentation usually employed. 

This manual is based on the most widely accepted parliamen- 
tary usage of the country, and where the few cases of departure 
occur they are presented without apology and wholly in the in- 
terest of greater simplicity and effectiveness. 

The ideal twentieth-century education calls for efficiency in 
all situations that confront the average citizen. An education is 
not complete that does not include some training in matters of 
a parliamentary nature, and the course of study and practice 
as outlined in this manual will, it is hoped, increase the oppor- 
tunity for the rising generation to acquire not only the necessary 
information but the grace and dignity of a worthy presiding 
officer and useful member in our various organizations. 

F. M. GREGG 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Explanation of Graphic Classification ix 

Graphic Classification x 

Key to Graphic Classification xi 

Diagrammatic Classification xii 

PART I. PARLIAMENTARY SYLLABUS 

Section I. Assemblies and their Organization 3 

Simple assembly or mass meeting 3 

Permanent society 3 

Representative assembly 4 

Section II. Officers and their Duties 5 

Presiding officer 5 

Recording officer 7 

Other officers 8 

Section III. Membership 8 

Eligibility 8 

Rights 8 

Duties 8 

Section IV. Introduction of Business 9 

Obtaining the floor 9 

Methods of introducing business 9 

Section V. Debate 10 

Section VI. Voting 12 

Methods and special rules for voting 12 

Voting for candidates 14 

General rules for voting 14 

Section VII. Motions 16 

Principal motions 16 



VI PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

Page 

Main motion 16 

To Rescind (or Repeal) 17 

To Expunge 17 

Subsidiary or Secondary motions 18 

To Postpone Indefinitely 18 

To Amend 19 

To Commit or Refer (or Recommit) 21 

To Postpone to a Certain Time 22 

The Previous Question 23 

To Lay on the Table (and to Take from the Table) .... 25 

Incidental motions 27 

Suspension of Rules 27 

Withdrawal of a motion or question 28 

Reading of Papers 29 

Question of Consideration (Objection to the Consideration of 

a Question) 30 

Questions of Order, and Appeals 31 

To Reconsider 35 

Privileged motions 38 

Call for the Order (or Orders) of the Day 38 

Question of Privilege 40 

To Take a Recess 42 

To Adjourn 43 

To Fix the Time or Place at Which to Reassemble ..... 44 

Section VIII. Committees 45 

Kinds, selection, organization, and government 45 

Work of committees 48 

Reports of committees 48 

Section IX. Informal Action 50 



PART II. PARLIAMENTARY NOTES 

Parliamentary law 51 

A call for a meeting 52 

Organizing a simple assembly 52 

An adjourned meeting , . 54 

Organizing a permanent society 55 



CONTENTS vii 

Page 

The constitution and by-laws 57 

Meeting and session 58 

Organization of representative assembly 59 

The presiding officer 60 

The recording officer 61 

Duties and rights of members 62 

Introduction of business 62 

Debate 63 

Voting by ballot 64 

Voting by division (rising vote) 65 

Voting by ayes and noes 66 

Voting by yeas and nays 66 

Nominating and electing candidates 67 

General rules on voting 67 

A quorum 68 

A call of the house 69 

Some definitions of motions, etc 70 

Classification of motions 71 

Main motion 72 

To Rescind 73 

To Expunge 73 

To Postpone Indefinitely 73 

To Amend 74 

To Commit 76 

To Postpone to a Certain Time 77 

Previous Question 77 

To Lay on the Table 79 

Suspension of Rules 80 

Withdrawal of a motion or question 81 

Reading of Papers 82 

Question of Consideration 82 

Questions of Order, and Appeals 83 

To Reconsider 84 

Call for the Order of the Day 85 

Question of Privilege 86 

To Take a Recess 86 

To Adjourn 86 

To Fix the Time or Place at Which to Reassemble Sj 

Standing committees 88 



Vlll PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

Page 

Select, or special, committees 88 

Committee of the whole && 

Work of committees 89 

Reports of committees 89 

Informal action 90 

PART III. PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE 

How to study parliamentary law * . . . 91 

How to organize a parliamentary-law club 91 

A constitution for a parliamentary-law club 92 

By-laws for a parliamentary-law club 94 

The first meetings after complete organization 96 

How to conduct parliamentary practice 97 

Practice on the Subsidiary motions 98 

Practice on the Incidental motions 99 

Practice on Privileged motions 99 

Practice on committee work 100 

Work on the review questions 100 

To close a term's practice 100 

PART IV. PARLIAMENTARY RECREATIONS 

One Hundred Review Questions 102 

INDEX 109. 



HOW TO USE THE KEY AND TABLE OF PARLIAMENTARY MOTIONS 
SHOWN ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES 

The significance of the order of motions. Disregarding the order of the 
Principal and the Incidental motions among themselves, the motions 
in the classification on the following page are arranged in their order 
of precedence from the weakest (Principal motions) to the strongest 
(Fix Time at Which to Reassemble). When any Principal question 
is before the assembly any of the motfons other than another Prin- 
cipal motion may be made, even though one question or more than 
one of a weaker rank (one above it in the list) is pending, but not if 
a motion of a stronger rank (one below it in the list) is pending. To 
Postpone Indefinitely and to Amend are exceptional in that neither 
one when pending gives way to the other. 

If, for instance, there were a Main question before the assembly, 
and the motion to Postpone Indefinitely is stated before the as- 
sembly but not voted on, the motion to Amend might not now prop- 
erly be made, but the motion to Commit might be made. If now a 
motion to Lay on the Table comes before the assembly, the motion 
to Postpone to a Certain Time is not in order as being weaker or 
inferior (above it in the table), but the motion to Take a Recess would 
be in order as being a superior or stronger motion (below it in the 
table). 

Significance of the characters. The Key shows the meaning of the 
characters, and their use may be illustrated by an example. Turning 
to the table for the Main motion, for instance, and noticing the char- 
acters that are placed after it and their significance (shown on the 
right-hand page), these facts would be understood to be true of the 
Main motion : it is debatable, and the Previous Question may be 
applied to it; it may be amended; it may be postponed; it may be 
referred to a committee ; it may be laid on the table ; and it requires 
a majority vote to carry it. From the absence of other figures we 
may also learn that the motion is not in order when another has the 
floor; it must be seconded ; and it may be reconsidered. 

By those who are somewhat familiar with parliamentary law this 
table may be made usable after a few minutes' study, and from it may 
then be found answers to over four hundred parliamentary inquiries. 
By the beginner in parliamentary law, mastery of this table should 
not be attempted until Principal and Subsidiary motions have been 
studied. 



PARLIAMENTARY MOTIONS 

(See preceding page for directions in the use of this table.) 
Graphic Classification 

Index Vote 

A I. Principal motions 

A I. Main motion 

A 

A 3. Expunge 

B II. Subsidiary motions 



1,"*, h, H, rt i 



2. Rescind or Repeal i' ~1K A ' /&' -' x 

l',*,' tt' t ti, i-n' I 



B I. Postpone Indefinitely *jK 1 

B 2 - Amend 1, ts, rt! * 

C 3. Commit or Refer IT j^» - 

D 4. Postpone to a Certain Time kc &c' 1 



C 1 



3 



D 5. Previous Question If <fr\ 

E 6. Lay on the Table JUf' <g*C 1 

F III. Incidental motions 

1. Suspension of Rules 1/ <fl* | 



G 2. Withdrawal of a Motion Jj[ 1 

G 3. Reading of Papers )L h 

H 4. Question of Consideration (Objection) faa <ft V | 

H [Question (or Point) of Order , . . ^' ^ £ ] 

H 5. Appeal : tf rt,- t°i 

I 6. Reconsider . . ft tf rt, T, I 

J IV. Privileged motions 

J 1. Call for the Order of the Day ... £ft 4 JK ^ 

K 2. Question of Privilege . . £g. \^ fa] fj ^ f 

L 3. Take a Recess ........ & 1fif Y k 

L 4. Adjourn (unqualified) HP Y * 

M 5. Fix Time at Which to Reassemble . . . j[°' fo i 



KEY TO GRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION 

Note. When any of the following characters are placed after any 
motion listed on the opposite page, it is to be understood that what each 
figure stands for is true for that particular motion, but when any of the 
figures do not occur after the name of the motion, the contrary of what 
the figure stands for is to be understood. 

SlGXIFICANXE 
Characters 

\ Requires at least a majority vote to carry. 

| Requires at least a two-thirds vote to carry. 

C Applicable only on conditions shown in the rules. 

Debate confined to the motion. 
ji Previous Question may be applied. 
(The speaker is keeping to his text.) 

Opens the original question to debate. 
If Previous Question may be applied. 

(Our friend widens the scope of his remarks.) 

\j Undebatable. 
f*k (He is not now in a position to speak.) 

£L In order when another has the floor. 

fiJ^K (He may cause another member to be seated.) 

Wl Does not require seconding. 
I (Sometimes he stands on but one foot.) 

A May be amended. 

f[ jf (The old stock may be improved.) 

£a May be referred to a committee. 

I 1 (He employs the help of an assistant.) 

'^fc«- May be postpo?ied — definitely or indefinitely. 
f\ (He may quit work and go a-fishing.) 

May be laid on the table. 
(Occasionally he takes a rest.) 

rMay not be reconsidered. 
(He has cut his head off, and can 't restore it.) 



m 



DIAGRAM OF PARLIAMENTARY MOTIONS 

(Showing their interrelations) 
Principal Motions 

i. Main motion. 2. Rescind. 3. Expunge. 



II. 



Sub- 










1. Postpone Indefinitely 


2. Amend 


sid- 




3. Commit 




Amend 


iary 






Amend 


Lay on Table 


Mo- 






Amend 


tions 


4. Postpone to a Certain Time 








Amend 








Amend 




5. Previous Question 








6. Lay on the Table 



Debatable 

Previous 
Question 
applicable 



III. 



Incidental Motions 
Suspension of Rules 



IV. 



2. 


Withdrawal of a motion 


3- 


Reading of Papers 


4- 


Question of Consideration (Objection) 


5- 


Appeal 




Lay on the Table (Undebatable) 


6. 


Reconsider 




Lay on the Table 


Privileged Motions 

1. Call for the Order of the Day 



2. Question of Privilege 



Postpone Indefinitely 



Amend 



Commit 



Amend 



Amend 



Lay on Table 



Amend 



Postpone to a Certain Time 



Amend 



Amend 



Previous Question 



Lay on the Table 



3. Take a Recess 



Amend 



Amend 



Adjourn (unqualified) 



Fix Time at Which to Reassemble 
I Amend 
I Amend 



Undebatable 



1 Generally 
i debatable 

y Undebatable 



Debatable 

Previous 
Question 
applicable 



► Undebatable 



Generally 
undebatable 



HANDBOOK OF 
PARLIAMENTARY LAW 



PART I 

PARLIAMENTARY SYLLABUS 



SECTION I. ASSEMBLIES AND THEIR 
ORGANIZATION 

Simple assembly or mass meeting. An assembly called together 
by public announcement (see page 52) for a single purpose 
and contemplating a single meeting. Its organization includes 
the following steps : 

1. The calling of the meeting to order by an interested member ; 

2. Nomination, election, and inauguration of a chairman ; 

3. Nomination, election, and inauguration of a secretary ; 

4. Statement of the object of the meeting by the chairman or 

by some one designated by him ; 

5. Transaction of business (adoption of resolutions, etc.) ; 

6. Adjournment. 

Permanent society. An organization instituted for one or more 
purposes and intended to continue indefinitely. The steps 
in its organization are as follows : 

For the first meeting: 

1 . The calling of the meeting to order by an interested member ; 

2. Nomination, election, and inauguration of a temporary chair- 

man ; 

3. Nomination, election, and inauguration of a temporary 

secretary ; 

4. Statement of the object of the meeting by the chairman 

or by some one designated by him ; 
3 



4 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

5 . A motion for the appointment of a committee on constitu- 

tion and by-laws ; discussion, adoption, and execution of 
the motion or order ; 

6. Adjournment to a fixed time and place. 

For the second meeting : 

i. The calling of the meeting to order by the temporary 
chairman ; 

2. Reading, correction, and adoption of the minutes of the 

previous meeting ; 

3. The he.aring of the report of the committee on constitu- 

tion and by-laws ; 

4. The making of a motion to adopt the reported constitution 

and by-laws as the constitution and by-laws of the 
organization ; 

5. The reading and amending of the constitution by sec- 

tions ; 

6. Amendments to any part of the constitution ; 

7. The hearing of the report on by-laws, as in the case of 

the constitution ; 

8. A vote on the motion of No. 4 ; 

9. The signing of the constitution ; 

10. Nomination, election, and inauguration of permanent offi- 

cers ; 

11. Transaction of other business, followed by adjournment. 
Representative assembly. An organization the members oi 

which were chosen as the delegates of other bodies. The 
methods of organization are variable, but the following are 
common steps in political conventions and similar assem- 
blies : 

1 . The calling of the meeting to order by a proper authority : 

2. The reading of the call for the assembly (see page 52) ; 

3. The effecting of a temporary organization, as in the organ- 

ization of a permanent society ; 



OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES 5 

4. The creation of a committee to examine the credentials of 

member 

5 . The creation of a committee on permanent organization ; 

6. A recess, or speeches, or " music by the band, " till the 

committee on credentials has had time to act : 

7. The hearing of the report of the committee on credentials 

and the adoption of the report with or without amend- 
ments : 

8. Inauguration of permanent officers ; 

9. The creation of committees on rules and on resolutions ; 

10. The hearing and adoption of the report of the committee 

on ruK 

1 1 . The hearing and adoption of the report of the committee 

on resolutions ; 
1 2 . Transaction of the regular business of the assembly. 

SECTION II. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES 

Presiding officer. President, chairman, speaker, moderator (in 

religious assemblies », etc. 
Powers and duties. See also page 6 : 

1 . To call the assembly together at the appointed time. 

2. To conduct and direct the business of the assembly. 

3. To assign the floor to a member desiring to speak. 

4. To state all motions properly coming before the assembly. 
5 To restrict debate to the question under discussion. 

6. To decide points of order promptly, and to answer parlia- 

mentary inquiries that are not anticipator}-. 

7. To keep any matter of business clearly before the assembly 

until it is finally disposed of. 

8. To put a question to vote at a proper time and to announce 

the result of a vote distinctly. 

9. To sign all acts, orders, etc.. necessary to earn' out the will 

of an assembly. 



6 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

10. To represent and stand for the assembly, declaring its will 

and obeying its commands. 
ii. To rise and stand before the assembly in the following 

cases : . 

a. When stating a question ; 

b. When putting a question to vote ; 

c. When announcing the result of a vote ; 

d. When speaking on a question of order. 

12. To use his official title, or say " the chair/' when referring 

to himself ; pronouns referring to himself should be in 
the third person. 

13. To know all about parliamentary law but not to try to 

show off his knowledge of it. 

14. To become excited, angry, or partisan under no circum- 

stances whatever. 

1 5 . To protect a speaker in his right to address the assembly. 

16. To refrain from debating or discussing a question while 

presiding. 

17. To be absolutely fair and impartial in his conduct of 

business. 

18. To tactfully encourage a timid member and skillfully re- 

press an overzealous one. 

19. To state a motion in the words in which it was originally 

offered or with changes acceptable to the maker of the 
motion. 
Privileges. 

1. To give reasons for his decision in case of Appeal. 

2. To vote when the voting is by ballot, or by yeas and nays, 

and in other cases when his vote can change the result. 

3. To permit the secretary, or another member, to put a 

motion referring to the chairman himself. 

4. To call another member to preside while he himself en- 

gages in debating a question. 



OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES 7 

5. To adjourn an intolerably turbulent meeting. 
Recording officer. Secretary, clerk, recorder, etc. 
Duties. 

1. To call a meeting to order in the absence of the presiding 

officers. 

2. To prepare a roll of members and call it when necessary. 

3. To keep a temporary 7 record of all business in progress. 

4. To keep a permanent record of all proceedings': 

a. The kind of meeting (regular, special, adjourned, etc.) ; 

b. The name of the assembly : 

c. The date and the place of meeting unless always the 

same ; 

d. The presiding and the recording officer ; 

e. The reading and approval of minutes of previous 

meeting ; 

f. The record of the business of the meeting, 

(1) Things done in legislative bodies ; 

(2) Things done and said in other assemblies ; 

g. Adjournment. 

5. To authenticate by signature all records, acts, etc. 

6. To refrain from recording comments of his own. 

7. To keep in custody the documents of the assembly. 

8. To provide the chairman with an order of business and a 

list of all committees. 

9. To turn over to the chairman of a committee, or some 

member of it, the names of its members and all papers 
* for it. 

10. To read all papers, etc., that may be ordered to be read. 

11. To stand while reading any matter to the assembly. 

12. To put motions referring to the presiding officer. 
Privileges. 

1. He may or may not be a member of the assembly. 

2. When a member, he has the right of voting and speaking. 



8 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

Other officers. 

Kinds. Vice president, treasurer, sergeant-at-arms, etc. 

Duties. Usually stated in the constitution of an organization. 

SECTION III. MEMBERSHIP 
Eligibility. 

i . In mass meeting, — determined by the call. 

2. In permanent society, — determined by the constitution. 

3. In representative assembly, — determined by the consti- 

tution and attested by credentials. 
Rights. 

1. All rights are founded on the equality of members. 

2. The rights of one member cease where those of another 

begin. For rights in debate see Debate (page 10). 

3. An assembly may punish a disorderly member. For form 

of procedure see under Questions of Order (page 31). 

4. It may also censure or depose a chairman for dishonest 

reporting of a vote, tyrannical orders, manifest unfairness, 
or any other culpable act. 
Duties. 

i. To assist in the maintenance of order. 

2. To seek to have business transacted in accordance with 

the rules of the assembly. 

3. To refrain from conversation and from crossing the floor 

during debate, or voting, or while the chairman is speak- 
ing. 

4. To refrain from using parliamentary motions merely to 

create disorder or to impede business. 

5. To refrain from using injurious expressions. 

6. To behave at all times as a lady or a gentleman. 






INTRODUCTION OF BUSINESS 9 

SECTION IV. INTRODUCTION OF BUSINESS 
Obtaining the floor. (See also page 62.) 

1. The member must rise and address the chairman by his 

proper title. 

2. Recognition must be received from the chairman. 

3. When two or more seek recognition at the same time 

a. The maker of a motion is entitled to recognition first 

in debate on his motion ; 

b. The member on the opposite side from the last speaker 

is entitled to recognition over one on the same side ; 

c. The member that has not yet spoken on a motion is 

entitled to recognition over one that has spoken ; 

d. The one who seldom asks the privilege of the floor 

should be preferred to one who frequently secures it ; 

e. In other cases the one first addressing the chair is 

entitled to recognition. 

4. If the chairman prefers, he may ask the assembly to decide 

by vote who is entitled to the floor. 

5. A member who remains standing while another is speaking, 

or who rises before the floor is relinquished by another 
speaker, or who approaches the presiding officer in order 
to secure attention, is not entitled to recognition by the 
chairman. 

Methods of introducing business. 
By motion. 

1. The motion may be made only by a member who has 

obtained the floor. 

2. The motion must be seconded by another member, who 

does not need to obtain the floor. The following are 
exceptions and do not require seconding : 

a. A Call for the Order of the Day ; 

b. A Question of Order (not an Appeal) ; 



IO PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

c. An Objection to the Consideration of a Question ; 

d. A motion pertaining to matters of mere routine. 

3. The motion must be stated by the presiding officer. If he 

refuses, the mover may himself put the question to vote. 

By presenting a communication requiring action, or by a report of a 

committee. 
By common consent in matters of routine, or by unanimous consent 

in any proceeding that is not unconstitutional. 

1. The chairman will say, " If there are no objections (such 

and such) will be done." 

2. After a pause for objection the chair will say, " It is so 

ordered." 

3. If objection is made, a motion will be necessary to accom- 

plish the matter proposed. 

SECTION V. DEBATE 

1. In debate a member must first obtain the floor. 

2. Except in very small assemblies a member should stand 

while speaking, unless physically incapacitated. 

3. A member should address his remarks to the chairman. 

4. When the floor is obtained, it may be held except when 

some one wishes 

a. To object to the consideration of a Main question 

before there has been any debate on it ; 

b. To make a Point of Order ; 

c. To call for the Order of the Day ; 

d. To move a Question of Privilege requiring immediate 

action thereon ; 

e. To have entered on the minutes a motion to Recon- 

sider. 

5. In debate one must confine one's self to the question be- 

fore the assembly. 



DEBATE 1 1 

6. One may discuss measures but not motives or person- 

alities. 

7. In referring to an officer or other member, one should, 

as far as possible, avoid using the other's name. 

8. The maker of a motion may not speak against his own 

motion. 

9. When a member reports a measure from a committee, he 

may not in any way be deprived of his right to close the 
debate. 

10. A member may speak only once on a Question of Order. 

1 1. In cases other than the two immediately preceding, a mem- 

ber may speak only twice, and the second time only after 
every member choosing to speak has spoken once. 

12. Unless otherwise provided, the time limit of debate is ten 

minutes. 

13. A debatable question is open to debate up to the time the 

negative vote is called for. Any one rising before the 
negative is put, however, if not recognized by the chair- 
man, may hold his place and the question will then be as 
if it had not been put at all. 

1 4. Suggestions are not to be regarded as debate and are allow- 

able even on undebatable questions. 

15. When the chairman rises to speak within his privilege, a 

member speaking must yield the floor till the chairman 
finishes. 

16. When a speaker yields the floor by request for a temporary 

purpose, or for a proper parliamentary interruption, he 
does not lose his right to finish his speech when the inter- 
rupting matter has been disposed of. 

17. When a member's remarks are deemed improper he may 

be set in order according to the procedure outlined under 
Questions of Order (page 31). 



12 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 



SECTION VI. VOTING 



Methods and special rules for voting. (See also pages 64-68.) 
Ballot. 

Form. The members write their votes on slips of paper dis- 
tributed and collected by tellers. 
Rules. 

1. This form of voting is employed only when required by 

the constitution or by-laws, or when the assembly orders 
the vote to be so taken. 

2. Sometimes this form of voting is facilitated in practice by 

the assembly's instructing the clerk to cast the ballot of 
the society, though this is not strictly legal. 
Division (rising vote). 

Form of putting. " Those in favor of the motion will rise." 
After these are counted and reported the chairman will 
say : " You may be seated. Those opposed will now rise. " 
The negative will now be counted and reported and the 
chairman will say, " The question is carried (or is lost)." 
Rules. 

1. This form of voting is to be employed where constitution 

or custom requires it, and it may also be employed im- 
mediately after a vote has been taken by ayes and noes 
and the chairman is uncertain as to the result, or a mem- 
ber is dissatisfied with the chairman's report of such a 
vote. One member, obtaining the floor and demanding a 
division, is sufficient to secure such a vote. 

2. The chairman may do the counting, or he may direct the 

clerk or tellers to do it. 

3. If the chairman does not report the count honestly, he 

renders himself unworthy to preside and lays himself 
liable to censure or even a demand for his resignation. 



VOTING 13 

Viva voce {by the living voice). 
By ayes and noes. 

1. Form of putting. "As many as are in favor, say Aye. 

Those opposed, say No. The question is carried (or is 
lost). " 

2. Rules. 

a. The chairman decides by the volume of voices. 

b. If he is in doubt, or if he has decided and a division 

is properly called for, he will ask for a rising vote. 
By yeas and nays. 

1. Form of putting. " As many as are in favor of (the 

question here stated) will, when their names are called, 
say Aye, and those opposed will say No\ The clerk will 
now call the roll. " 

2. Rules. 

a. The clerk records the vote of each member as he re- 

sponds, and the record becomes a part of the minutes. 

b. The vote is recapitulated, if demanded, by reading each 

name and the vote given. 

c. Debate is not permissible after this form of voting is 

begun, though a member may rise, when his name is 
called, and explain his vote. 

d. By a majority vote, unless otherwise provided, an as- 

sembly may order the vote on any question to be by 
yeas and nays. 

e. The yeas and nays may not be ordered in the com- 

mittee of the whole. 
Voting signs and other methods. 

1. In some organizations a vote is taken by a showing of 

hands, or by other special voting sign. 

2. Sometimes the house is divided, the members voting in 

the affirmative going to one part of the room and those 
in the negative to another part. 



14 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

3. Still other methods are employed in different organizations. 
Voting for candidates. 
Nominations. 

1. A candidate is usually nominated by being named by a 

member who has obtained the floor. This does not re- 
quire seconding. 

2. A motion to close nominations, if carried, merely prevents 

the public indorsement of other candidates but does not 
restrict the choice of those. for whom one may vote. 

3. Candidates may be nominated by a committee selected for 

the purpose. When their report is under consideration it 
is open to amendment, and, when adopted, the nominees 
agreed upon become the candidates before the assembly. 
Election. 

1. The more common method is by ballot. 

2. Unless otherwise provided, a majority of all votes cast is 

necessary to elect in deliberative assemblies. 

3. Sometimes it is provided that the candidate who receives 

a plurality vote, or again a two-thirds vote, is to be de- 
clared elected. 

4. When candidates are voted for by a rising vote or by a 

show of hands, the order in which they were nominated 
is the order in which they are to be voted upon. 

5. An assembly may vote for and elect one not nominated. 

6. To move to elect by " acclamation," if carried, merely pre- 

scribes the manner of electing and does not elect. It is 
unparliamentary. 
General rules for voting. 

1 . Unless the affirmative and negative votes are taken at the 

same time, the affirmative vote should be called for first, 
followed always by a call for the negative vote. 

2. An undebatable question should be promptly put to 

vote. 



VOTING 15 

3. When the chairman thinks a debatable question has been 

sufficiently discussed, he inquires if the assembly is ready 
for the question, and if no one rises to speak, it is put to 
vote. 

4. In calling for a vote the chairman should state distinctly 

the question to be voted on. 

5. Xo one may vote on a question affecting only himself. 

6. A member may vote against a motion he has introduced. 

7. When not voting by ballot a member has the right to 

change his vote up to the time when the decision of the 
question has been finally pronounced by the chairman. 

8. The chairman may vote when the vote is by ballot, or by 

yeas and nays, or when, in voting by any other method, 
his vote can change the result. 

9. Motions suspending or changing a rule or custom require 

a two-thirds vote for their adoption ; all others require a 
majority. 

10. When a vote has been taken the chairman should an- 

nounce the result distinctly. 

11. A chairman's decisions on Points of Order during the tak- 

ing of a vote may not be appealed from till after the vote 
is taken. 

12. Unless there is special provision for it, voting by proxy is 

not permissible. 

13. It is the duty of every member entitled to vote, to do so, 

though he cannot be compelled to vote. Sometimes, upon 
his request, he is excused from voting. 

14. Members not voting are deemed to have voted with the 

prevailing side, that is. with the affirmative or the nega- 
tive, whichever may have been in the majority. 

15. Unless a quorum is present at the time a vote is taken, 

the vote is null and void, except the vote on a motion to 
Adjourn, or to compel attendance, or to Fix a Time for 



1 6 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

Reassembling, if such time is not already fixed. Unless 
otherwise provided a majority of the members constitutes 
a quorum. 
1 6. A "call of the house" is employed in legislative .assem- 
blies if a quorum is not present, or if members are absent 
and their presence is desired to vote on a measure. 

SECTION VII. MOTIONS 

Principal motions. Motions that are never in order except when 
no other business is before the assembly. (See also page 71.)- 
Main motion. (See also page 72.) 

Object. To bring original business before the assembly. 
Forms. 

1. For the maker. 

a. " Mr. Chairman, I move that (here the motion follows)." 

b. " Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of the following 

proposed resolutions." (Here the reading of the 
resolutions follow, either by the mover or by the 
secretary.) 

2. For the seconder. " I second the motion." 

3. For the chairman. " It has been moved and seconded 

that, etc. Are there any remarks ? " 
Rides. 

1. A Main motion may not be made when there is any other 

question or business before the assembly. 

2. It must not conflict with the constitution, by-laws, stand- 

ing rules, or rules of order of the assembly. 

3. It should not be trivial in its object, nor out of harmony 

with the character of the organization. 

4. It must be submitted in writing if the chairman so demands, 

5. It takes precedence of no other motion and yields to all 

other than Principal motions. 



MOTIONS 17 

6. The Question of Consideration may be raised on this 

motion if raised as soon as the motion has been stated 
by the chair. 

7. It is open to debate or remarks, which, however, must be 

confined strictly to the motion. 

8. Any Subsidiary motion may be applied to it. . 

9. It requires a majority vote for its adoption. 
10. A vote on it may be reconsidered. 

Effects. 

1. If adopted or carried, it at once imposes upon the assembly 

and the chairman the duty of seeing that it is obeyed in 
spirit as well as in letter. 

2. If it fails or is lost, it may not be renewed or offered again 

in the same or practically the same form at the same 
session. 
To Rescind {or Repeal) . (See also page 73.) 

Object. To annul or repeal some resolution . or order of the 
assembly after it is too late to go back to it by a process of 
reconsideration. 
Form. " I move to rescind (here state the order or resolution 

to be rescinded).' ' 
Rules. 

1. Any order or resolution of an assembly may be rescinded 

after the time has passed when it could be reconsidered. 

2. This motion is subject to the same rules that govern a 

Main motion, as outlined above. 
Effects. 

1. If adopted, it is as if the original motion had never existed. 

2. If lost, it may not be renewed for the same specific pur- 

pose at the same session. 
To Expunge. (See also page 73.) 

Object. To disavow completely a former action or record by 
striking out the record from the minutes. 



1 8 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

For7?i. " I move to expunge from the records (here state the 
order, resolution, or objectionable words) as found in the 
journal of (give date and place in the record)." 
Rules. This motion is subject to the same rules that govern a 

Main motion, as outlined above. 
Effects. 

i. If adopted, it requires that the clerk draw a line around 
the portion of the record to be expunged and to write 
across the face of it the words, " Expunged by order of 
the assembly this day of , a.d. 19 ." 

2. If lost, the motion may not be renewed for the same pur- 
pose at the same session. 
Subsidiary or Secondary motions. Motions applied to other 
questions for the sake of disposing of them or for modifying 
them or cutting off debate. 
To Postpone Indefinitely. (See also page 73.) 
Objects. 

1. To dispose of a question for the session without voting 

on it directly. 

2. It is used by the opponents of a question to determine 

their strength. 
Forms. 

1. For the maker. " I move to postpone the question 

indefinitely." 

2. For the chairman. " It has been moved and seconded that 

the question be postponed indefinitely. Are there any 
remarks ? " 
Rules. 

1. It may be applied only to a Principal question or to a 

Question of Privilege. 

2. It takes precedence of the question to which it is applied 

and yields to other Subsidiary motions, except to Amend, 
and to Incidental and Privileged motions. 



MOTIONS 19 

3. No Subsidiary motion but the Previous Question may be 

applied to it. 

4. It is debatable and opens to debate the question to which 

it is applied. 

5. A majority vote is required to carry the question. 
Effects. 

1. If adopted, it removes from before the assembly for that 

session the question to which it was applied. 

2. If lost, it may not be applied to the same question again 

unless that question is later amended. 

To Amend. (See also page 74.) 

Object. To modify a question that is before the assembly. 

Common kinds of amendments with form for each kind. 

1. By elimination. " I move to amend the question by strik- 

ing out (here state the exact words to be stricken out)." 

2. By addition. " I move to amend by inserting (or adding) 

the words (state the exact words and the exact place the 
words are to go)." 

3. By division. " I move to amend by dividing the question 

so as to make the two (or more) following distinct prop- 
ositions." (Here state the complete propositions.) 

4. By substitution. 

a. " I move to amend by striking out the words (state 

the exact words) and inserting in their place the 
words (state the exact words to go in)." 

b. " I move to amend the question by substituting for it 

the following." (Here state the complete motion that 
is proposed to take the place of the question before 
the house.) 
Special kinds of amendments. 

1. The filling of spaces left blank for times or amounts in 
documents coming before the assembly for action thereon. 



20 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

2. The making of nominations. See Nominations (page 14). 
Rules. 

1 . Proposed amendments must be put in writing if demanded 

by the chairman. 

2. They should be exactly worded so as to read well if in- 

corporated as proposed. 

3. An amendment takes precedence of only what it proposes 

to amend. 

4. It yields to all other motions except the motion to Post- 

pone Indefinitely. 

5 . The motion is debatable when applied to a debatable ques- 

tion, and admits of only incide?ital debate on the question 
to which it is applied. 

6. A primary amendment may be amended, but not a second- 

ary, that is, an amendment to an amendment. 

7 . The Previous Question may be employed to cut off debate 

on a proposed amendment. 

8. The question may be laid on the table, but it takes with it 

the question proposed to be amended. 

9. An amendment obviously trivial may be ruled out of order 

by the chairman. 

10. An amendment may be hostile but must be germane. 

1 1 . An amendment to change a positive into a negative prop- 

osition, or vice versa, is not in order. 

1 2 . Any amendment applied to another amendment that would 

change it from one of the common kinds into another is 
not in order. 

13. In amending by dividing a question, the division must be 

clearly stated and each part must be a substantive 
proposition. 

1 4. When a motion has been amended in one respect, this may 

not be changed except by adding to it, or embodying it 
or the essential part of it in a new proposition. 



MOTIONS 21 

1 5 . Whenever an assembly wishes directly to undo what it has 

done in the way of amending, it must be by the method 
of reconsideration (page 35). 

16. A proposition may be amended in any portion and after- 

wards in any other portion, whether preceding or follow- 
ing the first part amended, but not in two or more 
distinct and unrelated portions at once. 

17. Special rules for filling blanks. 

a. The suggested items need not be seconded. 

b. The smallest sum or longest time proposed is put to vote 

first, followed by the next greater sum or time, and so on. 

18. Amendments to a constitution, by-laws, or rules of order 

require a previous notice before they may be considered, 
and a two-thirds vote is necessary for their adoption. 

19. Ordinary amendments require only a majority vote. 
Effects. 

1. If adopted, the amendment now becomes a part of the 

motion to which it was applied, and the business before the 
assembly is the consideration of the question as amended. 

2. If lost, it may not again be introduced except in a form 

which is a substantial modification of the first form. 
To Commit or Refer {or Recommit) . (See also page 76.) 
Object. To secure the advantage of action by a smaller group, or 

of greater freedom in debate, in dealing with a question. 
Forms. 

1. For the maker. 

a. " I move to refer the question to the committee (name 

some standing committee.) " 

b. M I move to refer the question to a committee (a special 

committee, the number or names of whose members 
may or may not be given)." 
C. tv I move to refer the question to the committee of the 
whole." 



22 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

2. For the chairman. "It has been moved and seconded that 
the question be referred to a committee (state kind). Are 
there any remarks ? " 
Rules. 

i . This motion takes precedence of the question to which it is 
applied, and of the questions to Amend and to Postpone 
Indefinitely, and yields to other Subsidiary and all Inci- 
dental and Privileged motions. 

2. It is debatable and opens to debate the question to which 

it is applied. 

3. The Previous Question may be applied to it directly. 

4. The question may be amended in the following ways : 

a. By changing the number or members of the committee ; 

b. By giving instructions to the committee. 

5. No Subsidiary motions but to Amend and the Previous 

Question may be applied to this question. 

6. It requires a majority vote. 

Kinds and work of committees. See Committees (page 45). 
Effect. 

1 . If adopted, it removes the subject, with all that adheres to 

it, from before the assembly until the committee makes a 
report, or is discharged without making a report. 

2. If lost, it may be renewed on the same question, should 

the situation change with respect to the question. 
To Postpone to a Certain Time. (See also page 77.) 
Object. To defer action 6n a question to a certain time. 
Forms. 

1. For the maker. " I move to postpone the consideration 

of this question till (state time)." 

2. For the chairman. " It has been moved, and seconded 

that the consideration of the question be postponed till 
(state time). Are there any remarks on the propriety of 
postponement ? " 



MOTIONS 23 

Rides. 

1 . This motion takes precedence of the questions to Commit, 

to Amend, and to Postpone Indefinitely. 

2. It yields to Privileged and Incidental motions and to the 

motions to Lay on the Table and the Previous Question. 

3. Xo Subsidiary motions may be applied to it but to Amend 

and the Previous Question. 
. 4. It allows limited debate as to the propriety of postponement. 

5. The Previous Question may be applied to it without affect- 

ing other motions pending. 

6. It may be amended as to the time to which to postpone. 

7. Postponement must not extend to a time beyond the cur- 

rent session of the assembly. 

8. It requires a majority vote. 
Effects. 

1. If adopted 

a. It postpones the subject, with what adheres to it, to the 

time fixed, and makes it an Order of the Day for 
that time. 

b. The subject may not be taken up previous to the time 

fixed, except by a two-thirds vote. 

c. When the fixed time arrives the subject is entitled to 

be taken up in preference to everything but Privi- 
leged questions. See Order of the Day (page 38). 

2. If lost, it may not again be made on the same question 

unless that question has suffered amendment in the mean- 
time, or some different inferior Subsidiary question or 
questions become pending. 
The Previous Question. (See also page 77.) 

Object. To suppress debate and bring the assembly to a vote. 
Forms. 

1. For the mover. 

a. Unqualified. M I call for (or move) the Previous 
Question.'' 



24 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

b. Qualified. " I move the Previous Question (on the 
question to Postpone Indefinitely, or to Commit, or 
whatever the immediately pending question may be)." 
2. For the chairman. 

a. Unqualified. " The Previous Question has been called 

for and seconded. Shall debate now be suppressed ? 
Those in favor say Aye. Those opposed say JVo" 

b. Qualified. " The Previous Question has been called for 

on the question (state the immediately pending ques- 
tion named by the mover). Shall, etc. (as above)." 
Rules. 

i. The motion for the Previous Question may be applied 
directly to any debatable question. 

2. It takes precedence of the questions to Postpone In- 

definitely, to Amend, to Commit, and to Postpone to a 
Certain Time. 

3. It yields to the motion to Lay on the Table, and to Privi- 

leged and Incidental motions. 

4. The motion to Lay on the Table is in order even up to 

the time of the final vote taken in consequence of the 
adoption of the Previous Question. 

5. It is not debatable and, if in order, must be put to vote at 

once. 

6. No Subsidiary motion may be applied to it. 

7. One may make a motion and at the same time move 

the Previous Question thereon. 

8. It may be reconsidered if not partly executed. If recon- 

sideration carries, no other vote is necessary to open to 
debate the previously pending question. 

9. Sometimes instead of moving the Previous Question, a 

motion is made to limit debate, and such a motion is sub- 
ject to the rules governing the Previous Question, in so 
far as they may apply. 



MOTIONS 25 

10. The Previous Question requires a two-thirds vote to 
become effective. 
Effects. 

i. If the unqualified form carries, it forces the taking of a 
vote on the successive immediately pending questions 
back to and including the original question, subject of 
course to the supervening of a superior motion. 

2. If the qualified form carries, it forces a vote only on the 

question named in the motion, subject to the supervening 
of a stronger motion. 

3. If the question carries when applied to a question respect- 

ing a report of a committee, the chairman of the com- 
mittee still has the right to close the debate. 

4. If either form loses, the motion may not be renewed with 

respect to the same question unless that question has 
suffered amendment, or some different inferior Subsidiary 
question or questions become pending. 

To Lay on the Table {and to Take from the Table). (See also page 79.) 

Objects. 

1. To postpone a subject so that it may be taken up at 

another time during the same session. 

2. To stop debate and suppress a question for the session, 

provided a majority cannot be secured to take the ques- 
tion again from the table. 
Forms. 

1. For the mover. 

a. " I move to lay the question on the table," or " that 

the question be laid on the table." 

b. " I move to take from the table the question (here 

specify a question that was previously laid on the 
table)." 

2. For the chairman. " It has been moved and seconded to 

lay (or to take) the question on (or from) the table. 



26 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

Those in favor say Aye. Those opposed say No." (The 
chair should say 7uhat question, if there is likely to be a 
misunderstanding.) 
Rules. 

i . This motion to Lay on the Table may be applied to Prin- 
cipal questions, and to proposed amendments, Appeals 
from the decision of the chair, Questions of Privilege, 
and to questions of reconsideration. 

2. To Lay on the Table takes precedence of all other Sub- 

sidiary questions. 

3. Both to Lay on the Table and to Take from the Table 

yield to Incidental and to Privileged motions. No Sub- 
sidiary motion may be applied to either form. 

4. Both forms of the motion are undebatable. 

5. An affirmative vote on to Lay on the Table may not be 

reconsidered. 

6. The motion to Lay on the Table may not be used merely 

to deprive the maker of a motion from speaking on his 
own motion. 

7. Both forms of the motion require a majority vote to carry. 
Effects. 

1. If to Lay on the Table is carried 

a. It places on the table everything that adheres to the 

subject except what adheres to an Appeal, a motion 
to Reconsider, or an amendment to the minutes. 

b. The motion with all that adheres to it may be taken 

from the table at the same or a future meeting of 
the same session of the assembly by making and 
carrying, at a time when no other business is before 
the assembly, a motion to Take from the Table. 

2. If to Take from the Table is carried, it brings back before 

the assembly the original question in the condition in which 
it existed when the motion to lay it on the table was made. 



MOTIONS _ 27 

3. If either form is lost. 

a. If to Lay on the Table is lost, it may be renewed again 

on the same question if that has been amended, or if 
some different inferior Subsidiary question or ques- 
tions are made to intervene. 

b. If to Take from the Table is lost, it may be renewed 

again after other business has intervened. 
Incidental motions. Motions arising out of other motions. 
Suspension of Rules. (See also page 80.) 
Object. To make temporarily possible an action contrary to the 

standing rules or rules of order of an organization. 
Forms. 

1. For the mover. 

a. If made preceding the motion or business for. which 

suspension of rules is asked : " I move to suspend 
the rules which interfere with ( state object of sus- 
pension)." 

b. If made with the motion for which suspension of rules 

is asked : " I move to suspend the rules which in- 
terfere with (state object of suspension) and that 
(state the proposed motion)." 

2. For the chairman. " It has been moved and seconded that 

the rules be suspended, etc." 
Rules. 

1. The motion takes precedence of any pending Principal or 

Subsidiary question or of any other Incidental question 
out of which it may arise. 

2. It yields to Privileged motions. 

3. No Subsidiary motion may be applied to it. 

4. It may not be debated. 

5. A vote on it may not be reconsidered. 

6. No rule conferring rights on one third of the members or 

fewer may be suspended unless by unanimous consent. 



28 , PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

7. A two-thirds vote is required to carry either form of the 
motion. 
Effects. 

1. If adopted. 

a. If the first form of the motion is followed, then in 

order that the thing may be done for which suspen- 
sion of rules was asked, a motion to that effect must 
now be made. 

b. If the second form is used, the thing for which sus- 

pension of rules was asked is now in order. 

2. If lost, it may not be renewed for the same purpose at the 

same meeting. 
Withdrawal of a Motion or Question. (See also page 81.) 
Object. To expedite business in case of changed opinion by the 

maker of a motion. 
Conditions. 

1. Before a motion has been stated by the chair the maker 

may change or withdraw it, if he sees fit, whether any 
one objects or not. 

2. When a question is before an assembly the mover may 

withdraw or modify it, or substitute a different motion in 
its place, if no one objects, up to the time a vote is 
ordered on the motion, and regardless of any amend- 
ments or pending Subsidiary questions. 

3. If objection is made, leave to Withdraw may be asked by 

means of a motion for that purpose. 
Forms. 

1. For the maker of the original motion. " I ask consent of 

the assembly to withdraw (or modify, stating how) the 
question." 

2. For the chairman. " If there is no objection, the question 

stands withdrawn," or " the member may modify his 
question as indicated." 



MOTIONS 29 

3. For any member in case of objection. " I move that the 
consent of the assembly be granted for the withdrawal 
(or modification) of the question. " 
Rules, 

1. The motion granting leave to withdraw a question takes 

precedence of the question out of which it arises, and of 
any pending Subsidiary questions. 

2. A question to Withdraw yields to Privileged motions. 

3. No Subsidiary motion may be applied. 

4. The question may not be debated. 

5. It requires a majority vote. 
Effects. 

1. If adopted 

a. It is as if the original motion had not been made, and 

any amendments or other pending Subsidiary ques- 
tions disappear with the withdrawal of the original 
question. 

b. A motion or question that has been withdrawn may be 

introduced again. 

2. If lost, it may not be renewed again in the same form on 

the same question. 
Reading of Papers. (See also page 82.) 
Object. To give information to the assembly. 
Conditions. 

1. When papers have been laid before the assembly for final 

action thereon, every member has a right to have them 
read once in his hearing. 

2. If the paper is one on which final action will not be re- 

quired at the time, it is not customary to have the paper 
read. 

3. If a paper or a document is offered to be read as part 

or all of a discussion of any debatable question, or if it 
is desired to have papers read under No. 2, or read a 



30 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

second time under No. i, and objection is made, a motion 
will be necessary to secure the reading. 
Forms. 

i. For the mover. 

a. " I move that the paper (describing it) be read by the 

secretary." 

b. " I move that the member speaking be permitted to 

read his speech (paper or document)." 
2. For the chairman. " It has been moved and seconded 
that (adopt the form used by the mover). Those in 
favor, etc." 
Rules. 

i. The motion requiring the Reading of Papers takes pre- 
cedence of the question under which it arises. 

2. It yields to Privileged motions. 

3. No Subsidiary motion may be applied to it. 

4. The question may not be debated. 

5. It requires a majority vote. 
Effects. 

1. If adopted, it necessitates or permits the reading of the 

paper. 

2. If lost, the motion may not be renewed with respect to 

the reading of the same paper again at the same session. 
Question of Consideration {Objection to the Consideration of a Question). 
Object. To enable the assembly to avoid irrelevant, unprofitable, 

or contentious questions. 
Forms. 

1. For the objector. 

a. " I object to the consideration of the question." 

b. " I raise the Question of Consideration." 

2. For the chairman. "The consideration of the question 

has been objected to. Shall the Objection be sustained ? 
Those in favor, etc." 



MOTIONS 31 

'Rules. 

1. The Objection is applicable to a Main question only. 

2. The Objection must be made after the question has been 

stated by the chair, but before there has been progress in 
debate, and before any Subsidiary motion has been 
applied. 

3. The Objection is in order when another has the floor. 

4. The one objecting need not obtain the floor. 

5. The Objection need not be seconded. 

6. The question is undebatable. 

7. No Subsidiary motion may be applied to it. 

8. A two-thirds vote is necessary to sustain the ( )bjection. 
Effects. 

1. If carried, the question objected to may not be discussed 

or put. 

2. If lost, it is as if no Objection had been made, but the 

motion to Lay on the Table may not be immediately 
applied to the Main question, nor may the Objection 
again be renewed on the same question. 

Questions of Order, and Appeals. (See also page 83.) 
Object. To correct a breach of order or an error in procedure. 
Kinds of Questions of Order, with procedure. 
1. Indecorum in behavior. 

a. Steps in procedure. The chairman, on his own initia- 
tive, or on the demand of some other member, 
" names " the member creating the disorder, that is, 
he calls him by name or title and informs him wherein 
he is believed to be violating the rules of the assembly. 
The offending member is given an opportunity to 
exculpate himself and is then directed to withdraw 
temporarily from the room. Failing to withdraw, he 
may be ejected by members appointed by the chair 
for the purpose. 



K 



M 



32 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

A motion is now in order to exonerate the mem- 
ber, the motion requiring a second but not admitting 
remarks or the, application of Subsidiary motions. It 
requires a majority vote. 

If carried, the member that was accused is invited 
to take his place again in the assembly. If it is lost, 
a motion for some form of punishment is in order, 
subject to the same rules as the motion for exonera- 
tion, except that it may be amended as to form of 
punishment. 
b. Forms of punishment. Requiring of an apology, repri- 
mand, limitation of privileges, fine, expulsion. 
2. Indecorum in debate. 

a. Steps in procedure. When a member speaking is 
deemed to have employed offensive words, the chair 
may call the member to order by saying, " Does the 
chair understand the speaker to have used these 
words (which he will reproduce) ? " Or another mem- 
ber may rise and interrupt the speaker by saying, 
" Mr. Chairman, I call the speaker to order for em- 
ploying the words (which he will here state)." 

If the chairman decides the words to be improper 
(from which decision there may be an Appeal after 
the form given below), he asks the speaker if he em- 
ployed the words, and if he denies their form the 
assembly decides on the words used. 

The one accused of the offense is then privileged 
to justify his words, or apologize for them, and is 
then required to withdraw. 

A motion is now in order to accept the explanation 
or apology, and from this point on, the procedure is 
as in the matter of Indecorum in Behavior outlined 
on page 31. 



MOTIONS 33 

b. Forms of punishment. As in Indecorum in Behavior 
(page 31). 
3. Violation of the rules of the assembly. 

a. Forms of procedure. 

(1) Member. "I rise to a Point of Order." 

(2) Chairman. " State your Point of Order." 

(3) Member. " My Point of Order is (here state the 

point, that is, show wherein a rule has been vio- 
lated or a mistake in judgment made)." 

(4) Chairman. " Your Point of Order is (or is not) 

well taken and the member (or the chair) is (or ■ 
is not) in order." 

b. Result. Action must follow in accordance with the 

decision unless an Appeal is taken, in which case the 
procedure would be as indicated below. 
Rules governing Questions of Order. 

1. Questions of Order must be raised at the time of, or im- 

mediately following, the irregularity, unless there is the 
intervention of a more highly privileged motion or an 
adjournment, in which case the Point of Order may be 
made after the privileged motion has been disposed of or 
the house has reassembled. 

2. They may be made while another has the floor. 

3. In case a member raises a Question of Order he must 

obtain the floor. 

4. A Question of Order must be decided promptly by the 

chairman (after asking advice from a member, if he k 
chooses), unless he prefers to submit the point to the 
assembly for decision. ] 

5. Debate is not allowable on a Point of Order. 

6. A motion may not be ruled out of order after it has been 

entertained and debated without objection. j\j 



34 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

7 . If any member disagrees with the decision of the chairman 
on a Point of Order he may appeal to the assembly for 
a decision. 
Forms for a?i Appeal. 

i. For a member. " I appeal from the decision of the chair." 

2. For the chairman. " On what ground is the Appeal made ? " 

3. The member will here state (or may call for the reading 

of) the rule that he thinks has been violated. If the rule, 
naturally interpreted, settles the point in dispute, then 
the assembly and the chair must act in accordance with 
the requirements of ihe rule. 

4. But if the rule is one under which the chair may exeirise 

a judgment, then the chair will say, " The decision of the 
chair has been appealed from. Shall the decision be 
sustained ? " 
Rules for an Appeal. 

1. An Appeal must be made at the time of the decision of 

the Point of Order, unless a vote is being taken, or 
another Appeal is before the assembly out of which the 
proposed Appeal does not arise, in which cases it would 
be the first thing next in order thereafter. 

2. An Appeal takes precedence of the question out of which 

it arises, and yields to Privileged motions. 

3. An Appeal is open to debate except in the following 
cases : 

a. When the Appeal relates to indecorum in behavior or 

debate ; 

b. When it relates to the priority of business ; 

c. When it arises out of an undebatable question. 

4. When debatable, a member may speak on it but once. 

5. In all cases the chair may state the reason on which he 

based his decision. 

6. An Appeal may not be amended. 



MOTIONS 35 

7. The motions to Lay on the Table and the Previous Ques- 

tion, if the Appeal is debatable, may be applied to it, and, 
if adopted, affect nothing but the Appeal. 

8. A vote on an Appeal may be reconsidered at any time 

before action has followed, in accordance with the decision 
of the assembly on the Appeal. 

9. A tie vote or a majority vote will sustain the decision of 

the chair. 
Effects. 

1. If the question carries, that is, if the Point of Order is 

overruled, the business proceeds as before. 

2. If the question is lost, that is, if the Point of Order is sus- 

tained, the order of action is changed to conform to the 

decision. 
To Reconsider. (See also page 84.) 
Object. To modify or annul, within a limited time, any action 

already taken. 
Forms. 

1. For the mover. 

a. The privileged form. " I wish to have entered on 

the minutes a motion to Reconsider the vote by which 
was passed (or was lost) the resolution or question 
(here state it)." 

b. The unprivileged form. " I move to reconsider the 

vote by which was passed (or was lost) the resolution 
or question (here state it)." 

2. For the chairman. 

a. The privileged form. " It has been moved and 

seconded to reconsider the vote, etc. (as above). The 
secretary will please enter on the minutes a record 
of the making of this motion." 

b. The unprivileged form. " It has been moved and 

seconded to reconsider, etc." » 



K 



M 



36 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

Rules applying to the privileged form of the motion. 

i . It is in order at any time, even when another has the floor 
or while a vote on adjournment is being taken, to have a 
motion to Reconsider entered on the minutes. 

2. When entered on the minutes it may be called up, if no 

other question is before the assembly, at any time during 
the remainder of the meeting, or at a succeeding session 
or meeting, if the sessions or meetings occur once a month 
or oftener, and there has been no intervening adjourned 
meeting. 

3. Only the member who had the motion entered on the 

minutes may call it up on the same day on which it was 
entered, unless that is the only day when it could be con- 
sidered, in which case any one may call it up. 

4. After the day on which the motion was entered on the 

minutes any one may call it up. 

5. When called up, it yields to Privileged motions only. 
Rules applying to both forms of the motio?i. 

1 . The motion must be made, except when the vote was by 

ballot, by one who voted on the prevailing side of the 
question, but any member may second the motion. 

2. It must be made on the same day on which the vote to be 

reconsidered was taken, or on the next calendar day of 
the same session. 

3. It may be applied to the vote on all questions but these: 

a. To Adjourn, to Suspend the Rules, and to Reconsider ; 

b. An affirmative vote on to Lay on, or Take from, the 

Table ; 

c. The Previous Question, if partly executed ; 

d. A vote electing to office one who is present and does 

not decline ; 

e. A vote as the result of which something has occurred 

which the assembly cannot reverse ; 



MOTIONS 37 

f. A question the vote on which has already been recon- 
sidered without a resulting change in the wording of 
the original question. 

4. If applied to the vote on a Principal question, or on a Sub- 

sidiary or Incidental question that has removed a Prin- 
cipal question from before the assembly, it is in order 
and may be acted on only when no other business is 
before the assembly. 

5. If applied to the vote on a Subsidiary question that has 

not removed the question to which it was applied from 
before the assembly, it must be immediately acted on, 
though yielding temporarily to Incidental and to Privileged 
motions. 

6. If applied to the vote on an Incidental question that has 

not removed its subject from before the assembly, it 
must be immediately acted on, though yielding tempo- 
rarily to all Privileged motions. 

7. If applied to an undebatable question it is undebatable. 

8. If applied to a debatable question it opens up to debate 

the entire subject to be reconsidered. 

9. No Subsidiary motions but the Previous Question and to 

Lay on the Table may be applied to it. 

10. The Previous Question, if ordered while to Reconsider is 

pending, affects only the motion to Reconsider. 

1 1 . It may be laid on the table, but does not take with it the 

question it proposes to reconsider. 

12. The motion may be withdrawn, on the day on which it j£ 

was made, without the consent of the assembly. 

13. If it is desired to reconsider one part of a series of steps, 

the assembly must reconsider the steps successively in 
reverse order, back to the one it wishes to modify. 

14. As soon as the motion is made, it suspends all action the jyj 

original resolution would have required, till reconsideration 



38 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

has been acted on, or lapses by the passing of the time 
limit. 
15. In all cases only a majority vote is necessary to accomplish 
reconsideration. 
Effects. 

1. If adopted 

a. It places before the assembly the original question, and 

in the exact position occupied before it was voted on. 
The effect of a motion for the Previous Question is, 
however, exhausted and the question is reopened for 
debate, though no one who has already spoken twice 
may now speak again. 

b. After the vote on a resolution has been reconsidered 

once, it is not in order to move to reconsider it again 
unless the original question was changed following 
the first reconsideration. 

2. If lost 

a. It may not be renewed with respect to the vote on the 

same question or resolution again. 

b. It is not in order to move to reconsider a vote on a 

question to Reconsider. 
Privileged motions. Motions that arise independently of other 
motions and concern themselves with the needs of the as- 
sembly. 
Call for the Order (or Orders) of the Day. (See also page 85.) 
Object. To get before the assembly a subject assigned to the 

time when the Call is made. 
Conditions. 

1. General Order. A subject assigned by motion and a ma- 
jority vote to a particular day or hour, and not thereby 
interfering with an established rule of the assembly. 
a. It may originate as a Main motion followed by a post- 
ponement to a certain time. 



MOTIONS 39 

b. Or it may originate as a Main motion to make a par- 

ticular matter the Order of the Day at a certain time. 

c. By a motion requiring a two-thirds vote the business 

may be taken up before the time previously assigned. 
d. By a motion requiring only a majority vote the busi- 
ness may be postponed beyond the time assigned, to 
a time not thereby interfering with an established 
rule of the assembly. 
2. Special Order. A subject assigned by motion and a two- 
thirds vote to a particular day or hour, thereby sus- 
pending an established rule or rules of the assembly. 

a. It originates in a definite motion to make a particular 

matter a Special ( )rder for a certain time. 

b. The motion for this purpose is subject to the same 

rules as the motion to Suspend the Rules. 

c. A Special Order may be taken up before or postponed 

beyond the time assigned in the same manner as a 
General Order. 

d. A Special ( )rder may not be assigned to a time when 

it interferes with another Special Order, but it may 
interfere with a General Order. 
Forms. 

i. Member. " I call for the Order of the Day." 
2. Chairman. "The Order of the Day has been called for. 
If there is no objection, we shall proceed to consider the 
Order of the Day." If objection is made, the chairman 
at once puts the question : " Will the assembly now pro- k 
ceed to the Order of the Day ? Those in favor, etc." 
Rules. ] 

i. A Call for the Order of the Day is in order when the time 
arrives to which the business was assigned, and may in- 
terrupt a member's speaking. j^ 
2. It requires no second. 



40 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

3. It takes precedence of all Principal, Subsidiary, and Inci- 

dental questions. 

4. It yields to the motions to Take a Recess, to Adjourn, to 

Fix the Time for Reassembling, and to Questions of 
Privilege. 

5. Neither the Call for the Order of the Day nor the motion 

to proceed to the Order of the Day is debatable. 

6. To neither the Call nor the motion may any Subsidiary 

motion be applied. 

7. The motion to proceed to the Order of the Day requires a 

majority vote. 

8. When the time arrives for taking up an Order of the Day, 

the chairman may, if there is no objection, put to vote 
any questions before the assembly and take up the Order 
of the Day. 

9. When an Order of the Day is taken up, a Special Order, 

if there is any, is to be taken up before a General Order. 
10. Both General and Special Orders, if more than one in 
either class is assigned to the same day or hour, are to be 
considered in the order of succession in which they were 
made. 
Effects. 

1. If adopted, the business interrupted is affected the same 

as an adjournment would affect it. 

2. If defeated, the business previously before the assembly 

proceeds, though the Call may be renewed immediately 
after the business is out of the way. 
Question of Privilege. (See also page 86.) 

Object. To secure to the assembly or any of its members some 
right with respect to safety, comfort, dignity, reputation, or 
freedom from disturbance. 
Forms. 

1. Member. " I rise to a Question of Privilege." 



MOTIONS 41 

2. Chairman. " State your Question of Privilege.''' 

3. Member. "As a Question of Privilege I move, etc." Or 

the member may merely call the attention of the chair to 
some situation implied in the object of motions of this kind. 

4. Chairman. " As a Question of Privilege it has been moved 

and seconded that, etc." Or the chairman may act on the 
suggestion of the member, or may rule out the motion or 
suggestion as not one of Privilege, from which decision 
an Appeal may be taken. 
Rules. 

1. The motion, if requiring immediate action, may interrupt 

a member's speaking. 

2. It takes precedence of all other motions but the motions 

to Take a Recess, to Adjourn, and to Fix the Time at 
Which to Reassemble, and to these it yields. 

3. A Question of Privilege relating to one or more members 

of an assembly yields to another Question of Privilege 
that relates to the assembly as a whole. 

4. The question is open to debate. 

5. Any Subsidiary motion may be applied to it. 

6. If a Question of Privilege is postponed, referred, or tabled, 

the business interrupted is resumed, and if the motion set 
aside is returned to the assembly it loses its privileged 
character. 

7. It requires a majority vote. 

Effects. As soon as the motion is offered it interrupts the busi- 
ness before the assembly. K 

1. If adopted, its provisions must be executed, and the busi- 

ness interrupted is resumed as soon as the privileged 
resolution is out of the way. 

2. If lost, the business interrupted is at once resumed, and 

the motion may be renewed again if the state of affairs M 

changes. 



42 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

To Take a Recess. (See also page 86.) 

Object. To suspend all business for a time without interfering 

with the continuity of the meeting. 
Forms. 

i. For the mover. " I move that we take a recess of (state 
number) minutes/' or " till (state hour of reassembling)." 
2. For the chairman. " It has been moved and seconded 
that, etc." 
Rules. 

i. This motion takes precedence of all other motions but to 
Adjourn and to Fix a Time at Which to Reassemble, 
and to these it yields. 

2. It is not in order for a member to make this motion when 

another member has the floor. 

3. It is not in order when voting is in progress, though it is 

in order before the result of the vote has been an- 
nounced. 

4. The question is not debatable but may be amended as to 
' the time covered by the recess. 

5. No Subsidiary motion but to Amend may be applied to it. 

6. A vote on this question may not be reconsidered. 

7. The motion is in order when no quorum is present. 

8. It requires a majority vote to carry it. 

9. Sometimes the motion is so made as to require a recess to 

begin not immediately, but at a specified time. If a motion 
to Adjourn is carried in the interval, it adjourns the 
assembly to the time of the next regular meeting. 
Effects. 

1. If carried, it suspends all business during the interval 

covered by the order for the recess. 

2 . If lost, it may be renewed again after intervening business 

or progress in debate, provided it is not made merely to 
impede business. 



MOTIONS 43 

To Adjourn. (See also page 86.) 
Object. To bring a meeting to a close. 
Forms. 

i . For the mover. 

a. Unqualified. " I move we adjourn. " 

b. Qualified. " I move we adjourn sine die" or " to 

meet to-morrow,'' or "in ten minutes," etc. 
2. For the chairman. " It has been moved and seconded 
that, etc." 
Rules. 

i. For the qualified motion the rules are the same as for a 
Main motion. 

2. For the unqualified motion that would accomplish a dis- 

solution of the assembly, the rules are the same as for a 
Main motion. 

3. For the unqualified motion other than the preceding 

a. The motion takes precedence of all other motions but 

to Fix the Time at Which to Reassemble, and to this 
it yields. 

b. It is not in order under the following conditions : 

(1) While a member is speaking ; 

(2) When a motion to Adjourn has just been defeated ; 

(3) When the motion to Fix the Time at Which to 
Reassemble is pending ; 

(4) While voting is in progress, though it is in order 
before the result of the vote has been announced. 

c. The question is undebatable. 

d. Xo Subsidiary motion may be applied to it. 

e. A vote on this question may not be reconsidered. 
/. The motion is in order when no quorum is present. 
g. It requires a majority vote. 

4. Of corresponding rank and subject to very much the same 

rules is a motion to Fix a Time at Which to Adjourn, 



44 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

and when such a motion is carried the assembly stands 
adjourned when the time agreed upon has arrived. 
Effects. 

i. If adopted. 

a. When it closes a meeting and not a session, the business 

interrupted is the first in order after the reading and 
approval of the minutes at the next meeting, unless 
the assembly has an order of business that provides 
a place for " unfinished business." 

b. When it closes a session in an assembly having more 

than one regular session a year, the business inter- 
rupted is taken up previous to new business at the 
next session. 

c. When it closes a session in an assembly that does not 

have another regular session within a year, or when 

the members of an assembly have been elected for a 

definite time and the adjournment falls at the end of 

the term of office of the members or a part of them, the 

adjournment puts an end to the business interrupted. 

2. If the question to Adjourn loses, it may be renewed after 

intervening business or progress in debate. 

To Fix the Time or Place at Which to Reassemble. (See also page 87.) 

Object. To fix a time or place for reassembling if conditions are 

such as to make this necessary or desirable. 
Form. " I move that when we adjourn, we adjourn to meet at 

(here specify time or place of reassembling)." 
Rides. 

1. This motion takes precedence of all other questions and 

yields to no other motion. 

2. It is in order even after a vote on an adjournment has 

been taken but not announced. 

3. It is undebatable when any other question is before the 

assembly ; otherwise it is debatable. 






COMMITTEES 45 

4. No Subsidiary motion but to Amend may be applied to it. 

5. It may be amended only by altering the time. 

6. It requires a majority vote. 
Effects. 

1. If adopted, the business interrupted proceeds, and the 

assembly is due to meet at the time appointed. 

2. If lost, it may be renewed when the state of affairs has 

changed. 

SECTION VIII. COMMITTEES 

Kinds, selection, organization, and government. 

Standing committees. Committees with a fixed term of office 
and rendering continuous service. 

Selection. The number of members and method of selection are 
usually stated in the constitution or by-laws of an organization. 

Organization. The chairman is usually named in the appoint- 
ment of the committee, but if not, the committee may organ- 
ize itself. The clerkship is subject to the same conditions. 

Rules goverjiing a standing committee. 

1. As far as possible or expedient the rules of the assembly 

govern the committee. 

2. A majority of the committee constitute a quorum. 

3. Except in large committees one does not need to stand 

when addressing the committee. 

4. Motions do not require seconding. 

5. The chairman may freely discuss questions before the 

committee, and there is no limit to the number of times 
the members of the committee may speak. 

6. This committee may appoint subcommittees. 

7. The motion to Reconsider a vote is in order regardless of 

the time that has elapsed, but only when every member M 

who voted on the prevailing side is present. 



46 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

8. The committee may not punish its members for miscon- 

duct, but may report disorder to the assembly. 

9. The chairman should appoint a time and place of meeting, 

but if he fail, any two members may make the appoint- 
ment. 

10. For terminating a sitting the form of the motion is, " I 

move that the committee rise," and this is subject to the 
rules governing the motion to Adjourn. 

1 1 . When a committee rises to meet at another time it is ad- 

visable, though not necessary, to notify absent 'members 

of the adjourned meeting. 
Special committees. Committees selected for a limited service. 
Selection. 

1. When the motion that created the committee does not 

provide, the appointment of the committee is made by the 
chairman or by the assembly, as may be decided inform- 
ally or by motion. 

2. A committee for deliberation should represent all opin- 

ions. 

3. A committee for action should be small and favorable to 

the proposition. 

Orgci?iization. Unless there is provision in the motion creating 
the committee, the member of the committee first named or 
elected becomes the temporary chairman, or, in his absence, 
the second one, etc. ; and on assembling, the committee may 
itself elect its chairman if it prefers not to accept the tem- 
porary chairman as permanent. The clerkship is subject to 
similar conditions. 

Rules governing a select committee. The same as the rules for a 
standing committee. 

Committee of the whole. The whole assembly acting as a com- 
mittee for the purpose of securing greater freedom in dis- 
cussion. 



COMMITTEES 47 

Creation of the committee. 

1. This committee is brought into existence by a motion 

" that the assembly resolve itself into a committee of the 
whole to consider (here state the matter to be considered)." 

2. This motion may come up as a Main motion, or it may 

come in as a Subsidiary motion, and is then subject to the 
conditions governing the motion to Commit. 
Organization. 

1. If the motion creating the committee does not name the 

chairman, the presiding officer names the chairman. 

2. The clerk of the assembly acts as clerk of the committee 

of the whole, but keeps only a temporary record to aid 
the chairman in the conduct of business. The report that 
is made to the assembly becomes the permanent record 
of the proceedings of the committee. 
Rules governing the committee of the whole. 

1. As far as is possible or expedient, the rules of the assembly 

govern the committee of the whole. 

2. The quorum for the committee of the whole is the same 

as the quorum for the assembly. 
•3. The only motions in order are to Amend, to recommend 
for passage or for indefinite postponement, and to rise. 

4. Unless otherwise prescribed by the assembly before going 

into the committee of the whole, a member may speak as 
often as he can get the floor and as long each time as is 
allowed in debate in the assembly. 

5. The yeas and nays may not be ordered. 

6. This committee may not appoint subcommittees. 

7. The committee may not punish its members for miscon- 

duct but may report disorder to the assembly. 

8. A sitting -may be terminated by any of the following 

motions. 

a. M I move that the committee rise." 



48 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

b. "I move that the committee rise and report." 

c. " I move that the committee rise and report progress 

and ask leave to sit again." 
Work of committees. 
To originate resolutions, bills, memorials, etc. 

i. A draft is usually prepared by the chairman or a sub- 
committee. 

2. This is read before the- committee, and amendments to 

the various parts are offered and voted on. 

3. The completed draft is then voted on as a whole. 
To consider papers, resolutions, etc., referred to the committee. 

1. Original papers are not to be blotted, underlined, erased, 

or otherwise directly modified or disfigured. 

2. The committee may recommend that the resolution be 

rejected, or that it be adopted without change, or that it 
be adopted with certain amendments agreed to by the 
committee. 

3. If amendments are many and complicated, a committee 

may draft a new measure and offer it to the assembly as 
a substitute for the original measure or measures. 

To transact some business for the assembly. 

Reports of committees. 

What constitutes a report. The final agreement of a majority of 
the committee in meeting assembled and, if important, written 
out and signed by the chairman and at least a majority. 

By whom the report is made. The chairman, or some one else 
selected by the committee, reports. If these fail, any member 
may report if called upon. If no report is forthcoming, a 
committee may be discharged and the matter that was referred 
to the committee is again in possession of the assembly. 

Forms of reporting. 

1. " The committee on (give name of the committee) respect- 
fully report, etc." (Here let the report follow.) 



COMMITTEES 49 

2. " The committee to whom was referred (state the matter) 
beg leave to submit the following report." (Here let the 
report follow.) 
Reception or hearing of a report. 

1. It is in order to make a report when there is no other 

business before the assembly. 

2. When a report is announced it may be heard at once if no 

objection is made and there is no other business before 
the assembly ; otherwise a motion to receive a report is 
necessary. Such a motion is treated as a Main motion. 

3. If the report is a completed one and the assembly vote to 

receive it, the committee, if a select one, is thereby 
discharged. 
Adoption or acceptance of a report. 

1. To make the acts of a committee a part of the work of the 

assembly, a motion to adopt, accept, or agree to is 
necessary. 

2. After the making of the motion to adopt, the report of the 

committee is open to amendment by the assembly. 
Report of a minority. 

1. Form for a minority report. " A minority of the com- 

mittee to whom was referred (state the matter) beg leave 
to submit the following report (here insert the report). 
I move that the report of the minority be substituted for 
* that of the majority." 

2. If the motion to substitute is carried, the minority report 

is subject to the conditions governing the report of any 
committee ; the minority report becomes the report of 
the committee. 



50 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

SECTION IX. INFORMAL ACTION 

Informal action is action in an assembly as if the assembly 
were in a committee of the whole, but without organizing 
as such a committee. This method of procedure may be en- 
tered into by unanimous consent or by a motion for the pur- 
pose. This motion is subject to the conditions governing the 
motion to go into a committee of the whole. The procedure 
is sometimes employed in small assemblies. 



PART II 

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES 

Parliamentary law. A system of common rules and practices 
for the government of deliberative assemblies is known as 
parliamentary law. To this same body of rules and prac- 
tices the name rules of order is often applied. The rules in- 
cluded are the ones that are employed in assemblies generally. 
In individual assemblies there are often special rules which 
arise as motions and which are not embodied in the constitu- 
tion or by-laws of an organization. These special rules are 
known as standing rules. The record of standing rules is 
found in the written minutes of the organization ; the rules 
of order are usually those contained in some manual of 
parliamentary law : while the constitution and by-laws are 
usually the written instruments of an organization. 

The term parliamentary originated from the English Par- 
liament, the first assembly in history to formulate a complete 
system of procedure such as has come down to our times. 
It must not be understood, however, that the usages of the 
Parliament of England constitute the ultimate authority in 
parliamentary disputes, nor does the Congress of the United 
States in this country. Many of the rules that govern those 
assemblies are in many respects not well adapted to the 
government of assemblies generally. 

In so far as there is an ultimate authority for parliamentary 
law, it will be found in the practices common to deliberative 
assemblies generally. General usage is the ultimate authority, 

5 1 



52 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

and this usage has been the slow evolution of centuries. 1 
has been added to now and then by legal-minded philosophers, 
and " infiltrated with the common sense of the many," so that 
while even yet it is not a perfect system, it is well .adapted to 
the needs of ordinary deliberative assemblies. 

Parliamentary law may vary in the details of its rules, but 
underlying it all there are found four invariable foundation 
principles or corner stones, upon which every portion of the 
superstructure rests. They are (i) justice and courtesy to 
all, (2) one thing at a time, (3) the rule, of the majority, 
(4) the rights of the minority. 

The following statement of the purpose of parliamentary 
law, taken from Cushing's " Manual of Parliamentary Prac- 
tice," is one that cannot be too much emphasized : " The 
great purpose of all rules and forms is to subserve the will of 
the assembly rather than to restrain it ; to facilitate, and not 
to obstruct, the expression of their deliberate sense." 

A good many manuals of parliamentary law have been pub- 
lished in this country, each seeking to report what seems to 
the compiler the best usage, but no two agreeing in every detail 
of practice. Of the many writers on that subject it should 
not be forgotten that Thomas Jefferson is perhaps the one to 
whom greatest credit is due. He is the pioneer American par- 
liamentarian, and " Jefferson's Manual " is still embodied in 
the " Rules and Practice of the House of Representatives." 
A call for a meeting. A call for a public meeting may be posted 
or published somewhat as follows : " All persons interested in 
(state object of the meeting) are requested to meet (state time 
and place)." This call may or may not be signed, as may be 
deemed best by the promoters of the movement. 
Organizing a simple assembly. When the time arrives for calling 
the meeting to order some one (usually previously agreed 
upon) of those interested in effecting the organization will 



ORGANIZING A SIMPLE ASSEMBLY 53 

-rise and speak somewhat as follows : " The house will please 
come to order. As it is now time to open this meeting I take 
the liberty to propose the name of Mr. So-and-so as chairman 
of this meeting. Those in favor will say Aye." After a re- 
sponse is received, he will say, " Those opposed, No" In case 
there are more saying Aye than No, he will say, " Mr. So-and- 
so is elected, and will now please take the chair." 

If the one who calls the meeting to o'rder prefers, he may 
call for nominees for chairman, instead of proposing a name 
himself. So also if the ayes do not prevail in the plan of the 
preceding paragraph. Under the nominating method a mem- 
ber will rise and say, " Mr. Chairman, I nominate Mr. A." 
Another may rise and say, " Mr. Chairman, I nominate 
Mr. B.," and so on. These nominations do not require 
seconding. As each candidate is named, the chairman will 
say, " Mr. A. is nominated," " Mr. B. is nominated," and so 
on. If any one declines a nomination, the chairman may use 
his own judgment as to whether or not to accept the with- 
drawal, or he may put the question to the assembly, " Will 
the assembly accept Mr. A.'s withdrawal ? Those in favor say 
Aye ; those opposed, No." 

The vote will now be taken on the candidates either by a 
show of hands, or by a standing vote, or by ballot. If the 
vote is not by ballot, the chairman will say, " Those in favor 
of Mr. A. will please rise (or raise the right hand)." As soon 
as he completes the count he will announce the number of 
votes and request those voting to be seated (or to lower the 
hands). In a similar way he takes the vote on the remaining 
candidates in the order in which they were nominated. 

When the final result is announced he will invite the chair- 
man elect to the front and introduce him to the assembly. 
The incoming chairman usually acknowledges the compliment 
paid him by a few words of thanks and then proceeds to 



54 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

call for nominations for secretary, the method of nominating 
and electing being the same as in the case of the chairman. 

When the preliminaries of organization are over and the 
object of the meeting has been stated and informally dis- 
cussed, the chairman will invite the assembly to business by 
saying, " What is the pleasure of the assembly ? " At this 
point resolutions should be offered for adoption, or a motion 
made that will crystallize the sentiment of the assembly in 
carrying out the purpose of the meeting. The procedure 
here would be according to the method outlined under Main 
motions (page 16). 

On the completion of the business any member of the 
assembly may say, "Mr. Chairman, I move we adjourn"; 
and after it is seconded, stated, discussed, put to a vote, and 
secures a majority in its favor, the existence of the assembly 
comes to an end. 
An adjourned meeting. If the business cannot be completed at 
the first meeting, the motion for adjournment should be, 
" Mr. Chairman, I move we adjourn to meet (state exact 
time and place)." On reassembling, the chair calls the meet- 
ing to order and then asks the secretary to read the minutes 
of the previous meeting. This done, he says : " Are there any 
objections or corrections to the minutes ? If not, they stand 
approved as read." If anything is omitted from the minutes 
or is incorrectly reported, any member may call attention to 
the error, and the chairman will say, " If there are no objec- 
tions, the secretary will make the correction proposed, and 
the minutes will stand approved as corrected." If now any 
one objects, the chairman will say : " The proposed correction 
has been objected to ; will the assembly vote to make the 
correction ? Those in favor say Aye ; those opposed, No. The 
question carries (or is lost), and the secretary will (or will not) 
make the change." 



ORGANIZING A PERMANENT SOCIETY 55 

The business before the assembly at the time of adjourn- 
ment now comes up for consideration. 
Organizing a permanent society- The procedure at first is quite 
the same as for the organization of a simple assembly that 
has an adjourned meeting, except that the officers elected are 
called temporary chairman and temporary secretary, and the 
preliminary business following the statement of the object of 
the meeting is the drawing up of a constitution and by-laws, 
unless the assembly chooses to depend on common law and 
custom for its constitutional regulations. 

When no constitution and by-laws are at hand some of the 
features that are to be in it may be discussed informally, 
and then a motion is made somewhat as follows : " Mr. Chair- 
man, I move that a committee consisting of (name members) 
be appointed to draw up a constitution and by-laws." The 
naming of the members of the committee may be omitted 
from the motion and their appointment left with the chair- 
man or to selection by the assembly. The chairman may 
say : " Gentlemen, you have heard the motion for the ap- 
pointment of a committee on constitution and by-laws. 
Are there any remarks ? " After the discussion seems to be 
concluded, the chairman may say : " Are there any further 
remarks ? If not, those in favor of the appointment of a 
committee on constitution and by-laws will say Aye ; those 
opposed, No." 

If the question carries and the appointment of the com- 
mittee is left with the chairman, he now names the members 
that are to serve on the committee, and this usually concludes 
the business of the first meeting. The procedure thereafter 
follows that outlined above for an adjourned meeting. 

When the committee is ready to report at the next meeting, 
the spokesman of the committee will say, " Mr. Chairman, 
your committee appointed to draw up a constitution and 



56 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

by-laws for this organization begs leave to report that it has 
handed to the secretary a copy of the instrument it has drawn 
up and recommends the adoption of the same." A motion 
should now be made by some member to adopt the constitu- 
tion and by-laws prepared by the committee. When this 
motion has been seconded and has been stated by the chair- 
man he will direct the secretary to read the first article (or 
section), and will then say, "Are there any amendments to 
be offered to this article ? " If an amendment is offered, the 
procedure will be that outlined under the subject of amend- 
ments (page 19). After an amendment has been voted on, 
the chairman will ask if there are others to be offered, and if 
not, or if none were offered at all, he will direct the secretary 
to read the next article (or section). In this way the entire 
constitution will be gone through, and then the chairman will 
ask if there are still amendments to be offered to any part of 
the constitution already covered, or if there are additional 
articles or sections to be offered. When this is disposed of 
the preamble to the constitution, if there is one, should be 
read, amended if necessary, and adopted. 

The by-laws will now be gone through in a similar fashion, 
and then the original motion for the adoption of the constitu- 
tion and by-laws prepared by the committee (and amended 
by the assembly, if there were amendments) comes to a 
vote. If the motion carries, a recess of a few minutes should 
be taken in which the members may sign the constitution, if 
the instrument provides for signatures. If the motion loses, 
there should be a motion for a new committee, or further in- 
structions should be given to the old committee, and the 
above procedure will then have to be repeated. 

Sometimes a constitution and by-laws are already prepared 
to be presented at the first meeting, in which case the ap- 
pointment of a committee is unnecessary, and the proposed 



THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS 57 

constitution and by-laws will be taken up for adoption at the 
first meeting. 

The next business in order after the constitution and by- 
laws are agreed to and signed, is the election of the permanent 
officers as required in the constitution. The method would be 
somewhat as already outlined. 
The constitution and by-laws. For organizations intending to be- 
come incorporated, the state laws lay down the method of 
procedure, and these will van' from one state to another. 
But for organizations of a permanent nature the framing of 
a constitution and by-laws is the usual initial step. 

A constitution should embody only what is fundamental 
and should not be subject to a rapid and easy modification. 
It is customary in drawing up a constitution to compare the 
constitutions of several organizations of a nature similar to 
the one being organized, and to adopt such features as seem 
best adapted to the purposes of the proposed organization. 
The constitution should usually contain the following articles, 
some of which, for convenience, may be subdivided into 
sections : 

Article I. Name and object of the organization. 

Article II. Qualification for membership and conditions 
of admission. 

Article III. The manner and time of electing officers, 
with sections on each officer and his duties. 

Article IV. The essential facts concerning meetings, 
and a statement of what shall constitute a session of the 
organization. 

Article V. A statement of what shall constitute a 
quorum in the organization. 

Article VI. Manner of amending the constitution, in- 
cluding time for previous notice, and proportion of the total 
membership necessary to vote its adoption. 



58 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

The by-laws should contain matters of greater detail and 
of somewhat less importance than those found in the con- 
stitution, and consequently less difficult to change by amend- 
ment, but not subject to suspension, or change at a single 
meeting. 

Among other things they may contain fuller details about 
the meetings and officers of the organization, a statement of 
the standing committees, their membership and duties, the 
dues or other obligations of members, and the specification 
of fines, if any are to be imposed. 

There should also be an order of business somewhat as 
follows, with necessary additions : 

i. Roll call. 

2. Reading, correction, adoption of minutes of previous 
meeting, or day's proceedings. 

3. Reports of standing committees. 

4. Reports of special committees. 

5. Unfinished business. 

6. New business. 

7. The regular work of the organization. 

8. Adjournment. 

In addition there should be named a particular manual of 
parliamentary law that shall be the authority for the rules 
of order governing the organization. 

Lastly it should be specified how the by-laws may be 
amended. 
Meeting and session. A meeting is an assembling, as a delibera- 
tive body, of members of an organization, for any length of 
time during which there is no separation of members by 
adjournment. 

A session in assemblies not permanent is a meeting or 
series of meetings terminated by an adjournment without a 
day for reassembling. 



ORGANIZING A REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY 59 

In a permanent society having regular meetings, each 
meeting constitutes a session unless the constitution provides 
otherwise. 
Organization of a representative assembly. In organizing a body of 
delegates representing a constituency, the beginnings are like 
those of a permanent society, the first new feature being the 
matter of examining credentials. The form of credentials 
varies with the different kinds of representative assemblies, 
but the following, for political conventions, will illustrate a 
typical document of that sort : 

At a State Convention of delegates representing the 

party of the various counties of the State of held at 

, in said State, on the day of , 

A.D. 19 , the following named persons were elected the delegates- 

at-large to represent the party of said State at a national 

Convention of said party to be held at , in the State of 

, on the day of , A.D. 19 , 

and are entitled to seats in said body. 

Delegates 



Alternates 



(Instructions to delegates, if there are any, should be here 
inserted.) 

(Signed) Chairman of State Convention 

(Signed) . Secretary of State Convention. 

For the creation of a committee on credentials, some mem- 
ber of the temporary organization, usually one previously 
agreed upon, who is to become chairman of the committee, 
says, " Mr. Chairman, I move that a committee of seven on 
credentials be appointed.*' After the motion is seconded, it 



60 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

is stated by the chairman, thus : "It has been moved and 
seconded that a committee of seven on credentials be ap- 
pointed. Are there any remarks ? " When discussion and 
amendment are completed, the question is voted on, and if 
the motion is carried, the appointment of the committee fol- 
lows. The one first named calls the committee together, 
while tellers collect the credentials from the members of the 
convention and turn them over to the committee. The com- 
mittee examines these credentials and decides, after a hearing, 
between any two delegations, if such there be, from the same 
constituency, as to which shall have seats in the convention. 
They then report to the convention through their chairman 
the list of those having proper credentials, and recommend 
that these be given a place in the convention's deliberations. 
When some one moves that their report be adopted and the 
question is voted on and carried, their work becomes a part 
of the work of the convention. 

In a similar way the other committees are appointed and 
their work accepted. The committee on permanent organi- 
zation has as its work the selection of a list of persons who 
shall serve as the permanent officers. With the adoption of 
their report, the officers named in their report are made the 
permanent officers of the convention. 

The committee on rules determines the special rules and 
the rules of order that shall govern the convention, and 
makes out an order of business. The committee on resolu- 
tions prepares the party's platform. 

With the adoption of the report of the committee on per- 
manent organization, the organization of the convention is 
completed, and the business as outlined by the report of the 
committee on rules is proceeded with. 
The presiding officer. The duties, powers, and privileges of a 
presiding officer are quite fully outlined in the Syllabus, and 



PRESIDING AND RECORDING OFFICERS 6l 

not much more need be said in this place, though much could 
be said. 

In calling a meeting to order the chairman usually says, 
" The house will please come to order," and will at once take 
up the order of business of the assembly. The method of 
assigning the floor to a member is shown on page 9, and the 
manner of stating and dealing with motions and debate is made 
clear under their proper heads elsewhere in this Handbook. 

One of the most difficult of presidential arts to acquire is 
the habit of referring to oneself, while presiding, in the third 
person. As a presiding officer one is really not oneself, but 
one is now l1 the chair." Instead of his saying, " I am unable 
to decide," " I will appoint Mr. Smith to serve in my place," 
etc., he will say, " The chair is unable to decide," " The chair 
will appoint Mr. Smith to serve in his place," etc. 

Self-control, clear-headedness, fairness, firmness, courtesy, 
tact, and ability to get things done are important character- 
istics of a good chairman. 
The recording officer. It has been said that if the presiding officer 
is the head, then the recording officer is the right hand, of an 
organization. The office of secretary is a very important one, 
and for the proper discharge of its duties no little ability is 
required. 

In the matter of keeping the records, no important item 
should be omitted, all motions stated should be written out in 
full, and a record should be made of all parliamentary pro- 
cedure in connection with the motion. 

In making a record of communications or reports of com- 
mittees, these may be copied in full or itemized so as to show 
where the reports may be found, or be briefly summarized, 
as may best suit the purpose of the organization. 

Neatness, accuracy, completeness, legibility, combined with 
an appropriate literary style, should characterize the secretary's 



62 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

record. The style, however, should not be that of an essay 
or of a newspaper reporter's article. 

In addition to the keeping of the records there are other 
duties the secretary is often called upon to perform, and in 
these and other ways he can contribute very largely to the 
satisfactory working of an organization. 

Duties and rights of members. An organization can never be better 
than the members composing it. While much depends upon 
the presiding and recording officers, there are important duties 
for all the members. That organization is most successful in 
which the members each feel the full weight of duty resting 
upon them. It never becomes a member to criticise or reflect 
upon an organization among nonmembers, nor in the society 
itself, unless for the purpose of correcting the condition com- 
plained of. The Savior, as a member of the Jewish church, 
tried to accomplish reformation from within and not from 
without. 

If a presiding officer proves dishonest, incompetent, tyran- 
nical, or manifestly unfair, and a majority of the members 
feel that something ought to be done about it, a member may 
rise and offer a motion that expresses the sentiment of the 
assembly, and if the chairman refuses to put the motion, the 
member may do so himself. In extreme cases a member may 
rise and say : " Fellow-members, I move that the chair be 
declared vacant, and that Mr. Jones be called to the chair till 
a new chairman can be elected. Those in favor say Aye; 
those opposed, No." 

Introduction of business. To obtain the floor is a technical phrase, 
and means to gain the right to speak or to address the as- 
sembly. In addressing the presiding officer by his commonly 
recognized title one will use the expressions, " Mr. Chairman," 
" Mr. Speaker," " Mr. President," etc., if that officer is a male ; 
but if an unmarried lady is addressed, one should say r * Miss 



INTRODUCTION OF BUSINESS 63 

Chairman," or " Madam Chairman," etc., and in case of a 
married lady one should say, " Mrs. Chairman," or " Madam 
Chairman," etc. 

The chairman's method of recognizing a member is to meet 
the eye of the one claiming recognition and say, " The gentle- 
man has the floor," or merely pronounce the name of the 
person, or, in representative assemblies, say, " The gentle- 
man from (naming the district he represents ."' 

The usual method of introducing business is by the making 
of a motion, illustrations of which have already been given. 
The purpose and manner of seconding a motion and what it 
is to state a motion are explained under the paragraph, Some 
Definitions of Motions, etc. (page - 

The parliamentary forms mentioned in the Syllabus that 
do not require seconding are all explained under the several 
paragraphs dealing with them later, and need not concern 
the reader at this time. In clue time, however, the reader 
should have these exceptions thoroughly in mind. 

The method of getting business accomplished by " common 
consent " in matters of routine is one that may well be 
employed to push business along in cases where there is 
likely to be general agreement on the matter. Suppose, for 
instance, that a number of nominations have been made, and 
some one now moves that nominations come to a close. In- 
stead of taking a vote on such a motion, the chairman may 
say, " If there are no objections, the nominations will be 
declared closed." If no objection is made, time is saved and 
business expedited. If objection is made, the chairman will 
then state the motion and take a vote. 
Debate. To debate a question is to discuss it, giving reasons 
why the question should or should not be passed. Unless a 
member really has something to say, he should not consume 
the time of the assembly. On the other hand, if certain 



64 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

arguments have not been brought out, he owes it to the 
assembly to speak on the question. 

The circumstances listed in the Syllabus under which a 
speaker must yield the floor temporarily are explained under 
the several heads named and need not concern the student who 
is just beginning the mastery of parliamentary law unless it be 
the matter of raising a Point of Order, and for this he may well 
turn at once to the treatment of that subject on pages 33-35. 

When a member is discussing a question the chairman 
should not be too hasty in calling him to order for 'not con- 
fining himself strictly to the question, for it is not always 
possible to tell at once the connection the seeming digression 
may have with the matter under discussion. But in case a 
speaker takes up the discussion of motives or personalities, 
he should be promptly called to order. 
Voting by ballot. This form of voting is more commonly em- 
ployed in voting for candidates than in any other situation. 
However, if a majority of the members demand it, by a 
motion for that purpose (and such a motion would belong to 
the group known as Incidental motions (page 27), and sub- 
ject to the rules common to those motions), this form of 
voting may be employed on motions generally. 

In counting the votes, it is usual for one of the tellers to 
read aloud the votes as recorded on a ballot, while another 
teller or the Secretary makes a record of the votes, as follows : 

W. P. Gillam, "ttU. HH 1111 
C. M. Nichols, HU.^U H41 1 
Victor Knapp, H44. TiU 11 

When the count is completed the result is reported to the 
chairman and he declares Mr. Nichols elected, since he has 
received a plurality vote, or that the vote will have to be taken 
again, as no one has received a majority vote. 



VOTING BY BALLOT 65 

If no election occurs, as an Incidental motion it may be 
moved that the one having received the fewest votes be 
dropped from the list of candidates. This would still not 
render a vote for that person, or for any other, invalid. Once 
balloting has been begun, only a recess or adjournment is in 
order till an election occurs, in ordinary assemblies. 

Where there is a requirement that officers shall be elected 
by ballot, and the assembly resorts to the subterfuge of mak- 
ing a motion that the secretary be directed to cast the vote 
of the assembly for Mr. So-and-so for the office of vice 
president, or other office, and no one objects, it is customary 
for the secretary to write a ballot, thus : 



For vice president 

Mr. So-and-so 



The secretary will then rise and say, " Mr. Chairman, Mr. 
So-and-so receives one vote for vice president and there are 
no votes for any other candidate." The chairman then 
declares Mr. So-and-so elected. 

While this method has the advantage of expedition, it is 
not strictly legal, for the reasons, first, that it is really a method 
of voting by proxy ; and second, it violates the fundamental 
purpose of voting by ballot, namely, that of secrecy. 
Voting by division {rising vote). The language employed by one 
who wished a vote to be taken would be, " Mr. Chairman, I 
call for a division " ; this requires no seconding. If the chair- 
man asks the clerk or tellers to do the counting, it is for the 
purpose of showing his desire not to be partial or unfair. If 
the assembly disagrees with the count, it is not in order to 
" appeal from the decision of the chair," for the chairman is 
merely reporting on the decision of the assembly, and not 
giving a decision of his own. In case the assembly wishes to 



66 



PARLIAMENTARY LAW 



take action, the procedure would be that suggested in con- 
nection with the Rights of Members (page 8). 

Voting by ayes and noes. It is important to note that in calling 
for a negative vote one should say, " Those opposed, No" 
rather than, " Those opposed, the same sign," for this is un- 
parliamentary. In announcing his judgment of the result the 
chairman sometimes says, M The question prevails," or, " The 
ayes have it," etc., instead of the form given in the outline. 

Voting by yeas and nays. In taking a record of a vote by yeas 
and nays the clerk usually prepares a sheet with the names 
of the members in one column followed by two columns, one 
for the " ayes " and one for the " noes." The record of a 
vote thus taken would be as shown below. 



Roll 


Ayes 


Noes 


C. F. Beck ......... 


I 




J. E. Glasgow 




I 


E. E. Good 


I 




J. D. Graves 




X 


•Ray Wcavcrling 






Totals 


2 


I 



The X means that Mr. Graves was excused from voting, and 
the line through Mr. Weaverling's name shows that he was 
absent. 

The record of the vote entered on the minutes would be as 
follows, after stating the motion to be voted on : " Those 
voting Aye were Messrs. Beck and Good ; one voting No 
was Mr. Glasgow. There being two for and one against, the 
motion was declared carried." 

Voting by yeas and nays is common in legislative assem- 
blies where the constituents have a right to know how their 



NOMINATING AND ELECTING CANDIDATES 67 

representatives voted. In ordinary assemblies it is more com- 
mon to vote on nearly all questions by an aye-and-no vote. 
Where this is the custom, and it is desired to have a vote taken 
by yeas and nays instead, before the question comes to a vote 
any one may move that the vote be taken by yeas and nays. 
Such a motion comes in as an Incidental question, and is not 
debatable, nor may any Subsidiary motion be applied to it. 
If a majority support this motion, the vote must be taken on 
the question before the house by yeas and nays; otherwise 
the vote will be taken in the usual way. In legislative assem- 
blies a smaller number than a majority can compel the taking 
of a yea-and-nay vote. 
Nominating and electing candidates. The details of procedure in the 
nomination and election of candidates is given in connection 
with the remarks on ( )rganizing a Simple Assembly (page 52). 
Some notes on election by ballot occur under the topic Vot- 
ing by Ballot (page 64). 

A majority vote means any number of votes greater than 
half of all votes cast. A plurality vote means a vote greater 
than any other vote cast when there are three or more candi- 
dates or items to be voted for. 

To move to elect by " acclamation " is really to move to elect 
by a shout, which is absurd and ought never to be employed. 

Not uncommonly in an election some defeated candidate 
moves to make a vote unanimous for the successful one. 
Strictly speaking, such a motion would be lost if there were 
even a single vote against it, and it is not often a safe motion 
to make. 
General rules on voting. Voting by yeas and nays and by ballot 
are cases where votes on the affirmative and negative are 
taken at the same time. 

Sometimes when a debatable motion is being discussed, 
and members feel that they are ready for the question, they 



68 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

indicate their readiness by calling out, " Question ! " but the 
chairman is not required to put the question merely on this 
demand. He must use his own judgment as to whether every 
one has spoken who wishes to speak, and he must protect the 
one wishing to continue the discussion. 

It is important to note that while one may not vote on a 
question affecting only himself, this does not prevent his mak- 
ing such a motion or discussing it when it is made. It should 
also be recalled that while a member may vote against a 
motion he has introduced, he is not privileged to speak 
against it. 

There are some popular misconceptions as to when the 
chairman may vote, and the exact language of the rule should 
therefore be noted. Under the rule the chairman may vote 
in such cases as the following, in addition to voting by ballot 
and hy yeas and nays : (i) if, for example, the vote is 8 for 
and 8 against a motion, the chair may vote in the affirmative 
only, for by so doing he can change the result, but not by 
voting in the negative ; (2) in case of a vote, say, of 8 to 7, he 
can now vote, but only in the negative, for he can thereby 
prevent the vote from carrying; (3) in case of motions re- 
quiring a two-thirds vote to carry, that is, at least twice as 
many for as against, he could vote in the affirmative if there 
were, say, 15 for and 8 against, or in the negative if there 
were 16 for and 8 against. 
A quorum. A quorum in an assembly is the minimum number 
that may be present to carry on business. . The constitution 
of an organization should say how many shall constitute a 
quorum. The number may range from a few members to a 
large fraction of the membership. In the English House of 
Lords three members constitute a quorum in a total mem- 
bership of over six hundred. In most representative assem- 
blies a majority of members is a quorum for the transaction of 



A CALL OF THE HOUSE 69 

business. In assemblies which act on their own responsibility, 
such as voluntary meetings and stockholders' meetings, there 
is no quorum requirement. 

It is to be understood that a quorum is determined by 
counting the actual number of members present, and not by 
taking the total number of those who may have voted on a 
question before the assembly. Prior to the days of Speaker 
Reed, in the national House of Representatives, a " voting 
quorum " was the standard, and no one who did not vote 
was regarded as present, however " visible or vociferous " he 
may have been. 

The absence of a quorum is allowable in debate and in 
the discharge of routine business generally, and its presence 
is a necessity only in case of voting. 
A call of the house. In assemblies having the power to compel 
the attendance of its members a parliamentary device known 
as a " call of the house " is resorted to for bringing in ab- 
sentees. In Congress one fifth of the members may compel 
the attendance of absentees. In some state legislatures as 
few as five members may secure the call of the house. 

The usual procedure is for some member to say, " Mr. 
Speaker, I demand the call of the house." When this demand 
is seconded by the requisite number of members the Speaker 
directs the secretary to call the roll of members and note all 
absentees. Then the doors are locked, and the sergeant-at- 
arms is given an order to bring in the absent members. 
While the call is in progress no motion is in order but to 
Adjourn and to raise the call. If it is desired to end the 
quest for members, some one will say, " Mr. Speaker, I move 
to raise the call of the house." Such a motion requires a 
majority of the members present voting in its favor. It is usual 
to impose some punishment or fine on members brought in, in 
consequence of the call, though the penalty is often remitted. 



70 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

Some definitions of motions, etc. A motion is a formal proposition 
offered for the consideration of a deliberative body, to the 
end that it may be enacted into a law of the assembly. To 
make a motion is to propose it to the assembly, and this is 
done by some member other than the chairman. To second 
a motion is to indicate a willingness to be a second one to ask 
for the consideration of a motion. The purpose of requiring 
a motion to be seconded is to guarantee that at least two 
members wish the motion to be considered. Any member 
wishing to second a motion may or may not obtain the floor, 
as he may choose, and say, " I second (or support) the 
motion." 

A motion is in order if it violates no rule of order either 
in its character or by reason of the time at which it is pro- 
posed. To entertain a motion is to recognize it as being in 
order. To state a motion is to repeat it again to the as- 
sembly, and this is done by the chairman. The rule is that 
the chairman must state the motion in the words used when 
the motion was made. However, he may modify it a little if 
he can improve its grammatical, rhetorical, or parliamentary 
form, provided the maker of the motion does not object. The 
motion as stated by the chair is the one the assembly has to 
consider. 

After a motion has been stated by the chair it is properly 
called a question and is no longer a motion. A pending ques- 
tion is a question awaiting a vote. An immediately pending 
question is that one of two or more pending questions which 
is the first one in order to be voted upon. 

To put a question is for the chairman to ask for a vote 
on the question. If some time has intervened between the 
stating of a motion and the putting of the question, the ques- 
tion should be stated again at the time of taking the vote 
on it. 



CLASSIFICATION OF MOTIONS 71 

After a question has been voted on and carried, it becomes 
an order if it is of the nature of a command, otherwise it 
becomes a resolution. 
Classification of motions. The twenty varieties of parliamentary 
motions considered in this work are divided into four groups, 
and are arranged in the order of their precedence from the 
weakest to the strongest. The motions of the first group 
are here called Principal motions, and are characterized by 
the fact that they are never in order when there is any other ' 
question or business before the assembly. 

The six motions of the next group are such as are applied to 
other motions for the purpose of modifying, or disposing of 
them, or of cutting off debate on them. These are called Sub- 
sidiary motions, and it is highly important that the student of 
parliamentary law should know them in the exact order in 
which they are given, for they are so arranged that each one 
takes precedence of those preceding it in the list and yields 
to those following it, except that to Postpone Indefinitely and 
to Amend are coordinate, neither one yielding to the other. 
Subsidiary motions take precedence of Principal questions, 
and yield to Incidental and to Privileged motions. 

The succeeding six motions are motions that arise out of 
other motions and come up in an incidental way. Hence 
they are known as Incidental motions. The order in which 
these six are given is not significant, as these motions rarely 
come into contact with each other. Their relations are made 
clear under the discussions of the separate motions. Inci- 
. dental motions take precedence of Principal and of Sub- 
sidiary questions, and of Privileged questions out of which 
they may arise, but yield to other Privileged motions. 

The remaining five motions are called Privileged motions, 
and these are motions that arise independently of other mo- 
tions and concern themselves with the needs and rights of the 



72 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

assembly, and are therefore of the very highest rank. They 
are given in the order of rank among themselves ; hence it is 
worth while to commit them to memory in that order. Privi- 
leged motions take precedence of all other questions, if made 
following them, though they yield to certain Incidental mo- 
tions arising out of them, and in some cases to Subsidiary 
motions applied to them. 
Main motion. Read carefully the paragraph preceding before 
proceeding further with this one. In making a motion one 
should avoid saying, " I move you that, etc." The use of the 
word " you " is a solecism to be avoided. It is also to be recalled 
that one should say, " Mr. Speaker," " Mr. President," or 
whatever the proper title of that officer may be, when ad- 
dressing him. 

One thing at a time is a fundamental principle of parlia- 
mentary law. There must not, therefore, be two Principal 
motions before the assembly at the same time. If a second 
one is offered, the chairman should decline to entertain it. 

If a motion contrary to the constitution, by-laws, rules of 
order, or standing rules is made and carried, the resolution or 
order is null and void. 

To take precede?ice (pre-ced' ence) means to go before or 
pass in front of. As used in the rule, it means that if there 
is any question before the assembly, a Main motion may not 
come up to be considered before the other question is out of 
the way. 

To yield to means to give place to, and in the rule it implies 
that when a Main question is before the assembly, if a Sub- 
sidiary, Incidental, or Privileged motion is made, any such 
motion, if in order, would have to be considered first, and 
the consideration of the Main question is temporarily sus- 
pended. This is no violation of the principle " one thing 
at a time," for when one motion yields to another, the 



TO RESCIND 73 

supervening motion is the " one thing " then before the 
assembly. 

To apply one motion to another is to use the applied motion 
in modifying, shutting off debate upon, or temporarily dis- 
posing of the other motion. 

For the matter of reconsideration, see To Reconsider 
(page 35). 

To renew a motion is to offer it again as a new motion. 

To Rescind. It is a general principle of parliamentary law that 
what an assembly has just done it may not undo. There may 
be a case, however, where there are strong reasons why an 
order or resolution of the assembly is useless or harmful, and 
it is better to repeal it than to disregard or violate it. The 
motion as outlined provides the method. It may fairly be 
said that in societies, states, and nations all laws should be re- 
pealed rather than to fall into " harmless disuse," — innocuous 
desuetude, to use a famous phrase from one of President 
Cleveland's messages. 

To Expunge. A motion to Expunge a part of a record is really 
a parliamentary absurdity, because in a sense it requires the 
falsification of the journal. It has, however, high legislative 
precedent. One of the most famous in our history is the one 
which Senator Benton got through the United States Senate 
requiring' that there be expunged from the records of the 
senate a resolution censuring President Andrew Jackson. 

To Postpone Indefinitely. The name of this motion unfortunately 
does not suggest its real nature. It might better be called, 
perhaps, the motion to Postpone Perpetually, for such is its 
effect, if carried. If a member is opposed to a motion but 
is not certain that there are enough votes to defeat it on a 
direct vote, he moves to postpone the question indefinitely. 
This gives opportunity to discuss not only the question of 
postponement but the original question as well, and if now 



74 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

the motion to Postpone Indefinitely loses, the member still 
has a chance to employ amendments or dilatory motions to 
delay or defeat the final carrying of the question. 

In saying that this motion takes precedence of the question 
to which it is applied, it is to be understood that while the 
original question is before the assembly (not yet voted on) it 
is in order to make the motion to Postpone Indefinitely and 
have it acted on, and if this is lost, the consideration of the 
original question is taken up at the point where it was left 
off when the motion to Postpone Indefinitely was offered. 

If, while the motion to Postpone Indefinitely is pending, 
some one moves to Amend the original motion, the motion 
to Amend should be declared out of order by the chairman, 
because to" Postpone Indefinitely does not yield to the motion 
to Amend. But if some one should move to refer the orig- 
inal motion to a committee, this motion would be in order 
and would be first considered, because to Postpone Indefi- 
nitely yields to any Subsidiary motion except to Amend. If 
the motion to Refer is lost, then business reverts to the 
motion to Postpone Indefinitely. 
To Amend. The forms of offering amendments should be mas- 
tered in order to avoid a too common slovenliness in such 
matters. If, for instance, a question before an assembly were, 
" Resolved, that a committee be appointed, to decorate the 
the hall for the coming open meeeting," one would probably 
hear such an amendment as the following : " I move to amend 
the question so as to make Miss Jones the chairman of the 
committee." In a case like this the chairman should either 
declare the motion out of order because not properly worded, 
or take it upon himself to state the amendment thus : "It 
has been proposed to amend the question by inserting after 
the word ' committee/ the words, * with Miss Jones as chair- 
man.' " In this connection it may be observed that the 



TO AMEND 75 

chairman, in stating an amendment, should be careful to say, 
"It has been moved and seconded to amend," or, " It has 
been proposed to amend," or, r ' The following amendment has 
been offered" not, " It has been amended, etc.," because in 
reality the question has not yet been amended. 

A reason why to Postpone Indefinitely and to Amend do 
not yield to each other, but instead, " the first made, the first 
put," is found in the fact that if the question is to be post- 
poned perpetually, it is not worth while to spend time in 
amending it, and on the other hand, if it is proposed to 
amend it, the assembly is not prepared to decide on the ques- 
tion of perpetual postponement. 

Under the rule there may not be an amendment offered 
to a proposed amendment of another proposed amendment. 
In other words, a tertiary amendment may not be employed. 
When a secondary amendment is before the assembly and 
comes to a vote, the next thing in order is the consideration 
of the primary amendment, or the primary amendment as 
amended, if the secondary amendment carried. At this point 
a different secondary amendment would be in order if any one 
wished to offer it. In finally putting the primary 7 amendment 
to a vote, the chairman says : " The proposed amendment (or 
amendment as amended) is (here stating it). Those in favor, 
etc." In putting the original question to a vote after it has 
been amended, he says : ? * The question as amended now is 
(here stating it). Are there any further remarks or amend- 
ments ? If not, those in favor of the motion as it now stands 
say Aye ; those opposed, No" 

An example of a hostile amendment is furnished by a case 
in which it has been moved to extend to some one a vote of 
thanks, followed by a proposal to amend by striking out the 
word " thanks " and inserting the word " censure." Such a 
proposed amendment is in order. But if there were a question 



76 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

before the house to extend a vote of thanks to Mr. Smith, 
and it should be moved to amend by striking out the words, 
" extend a vote of thanks to " and inserting the words, " direct 
the treasurer to secure a loan of ten dollars from," such a 
proposed amendment is not in order because not germane, 
that is, not having any connection with the intent of the 
original question. 

When amendment by division is agreed upon, the relatively 
more important substantive proposition should be considered 
first; but if there is no difference in importance, then the 
propositions should be considered in the order in which they 
occurred in the original question. 
To Commit. The verb " to commit," as a parliamentary term, 
means to refer to a committee ; the Subsidiary motion, to 
Commit, must be distinguished from a Main motion to appoint 
a committee for the accomplishment of some matter. The 
latter is an original motion, while the former is a means of 
disposing of a question already before the assembly, although 
the work of the committee in either case might be the same. 

As to the matter of the precedence of the motion, it is to 
be understood that when a motion to Commit is made it 
would be in order, even though at that time there were pend- 
ing (i) a Main question and (2) a question either to Postpone 
Indefinitely or to Amend, with possibly an amendment pend- 
ing on the latter. The question to Commit would in such a 
situation be the one first to be considered, though if now a 
stronger Subsidiary, an Incidental, or a Privileged motion 
were to be offered, action on the motion to Commit would 
for the time being be suspended, and then the consideration 
of the questions in order, from the one last made back to the 
original question, would follow, unless some one of the ques- 
tions in carrying should take the business from before the 
assembly. 



TO POSTPONE TO A CERTAIN TIME JJ 

If the question to Commit is lost when put to a vote, it may 
be renewed if in the meantime the original question has been 
amended, or a different inferior Subsidiary question is now 
pending on the original question. 

To Postpone to a Certain Time. Perhaps little need be said on 
the motion to Postpone to a Certain Time beyond what is 
made clear in the main outline of this motion. As to its 
debatability, it will be recalled that this question and the 
question to Amend require discussion to be confined to the 
questions themselves ; while to Postpone Indefinitely and to 
Commit permit debate on the original question as well. The 
reason for this arrangement is clear when we consider that 
the two last-named motions, if they prevail, take the original 
question from before the assembly, and the assembly might 
not have other opportunity to discuss the original question. 
But the motions to Amend and to Postpone to a Certain 
Time do not take the original question away from the as- 
sembly, so that opportunity to discuss that question will 
recur, even though these two Subsidiary motions prevail. 

Previous Question. The first thing the student must do in the 
mastery of this motion is to free himself from any suggestion 
contained in the name of this motion, and to think of it only 
as a motion for suppressing debate. Indeed, to Suppress 
Debate would be a much better name for the motion as it is 
now used in America. The name Previous Question is an 
unhappy survival from an old-time parliamentary procedure 
when the words " previous question " had fitting application. 
The motion came into existence more than three centuries 
ago in the English Parliament, and was employed to avoid 
taking a vote on delicate or malodorous questions. Such a 
question being before Parliament, an enemy of the motion 
called for the Previous Question, and the question as put was, 
" Shall the Main question be put ? " If this question carried, 



78 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

the original question came to a vote without discussion ; but 
if this question lost, the original question was suppressed for 
the session. At the present time in Parliament, however, the 
question put is, " Shall the Main question now be put ? " and 
if it loses, the original question is suppressed for the day 
only. 

In Parliament the call for the Previous Question has always 
been debatable, but for more than a hundred years it has been 
held undebatable in Congress, and for nearly fifty years, 
whenever the call for the Previous Question loses, the dis- 
cussion of the original question has been permitted, so that in 
America the original purpose and effect of the motion have 
been quite turned around, and with us the friends and not 
the enemies of a question invoke the Previous Question. 

In Congress the call for the Previous Question must be^ 
seconded by a majority of the members before the question 
can be put, but in ordinary assemblies a single seconder is 
quite sufficient. In the United States Senate unlimited debate 
is allowed on all questions, and the motion for the Previous 
Question is not used at all. 

Under the rules on this motion given in the Syllabus, Rule 
No. 4 will become clear if studied in connection with Effect 
No. i. Rule No. 8 will also be clearer if Effect No. i is 
taken into account. The Previous Question is " partly exe- 
cuted *' if one or more votes on pending Subsidiary questions 
have been taken in consequence of the adoption of the 
Previous Question. 

If it is desired to permit limited debate and not to suppress 
it entirely, it is usual to move that debate be concluded in 
one hour, or whatever time may seem best, or to move that 
individual discussions of the question be limited to five min- 
utes, or other specified time limitation. This is a very useful 
modification of the motion for the Previous Question, and has 



TO LAY ON THE TABLE 79 

its same rank, though a motion for the Previous Question 
takes precedence of a motion to limit debate. Adoption of 
the motion to conclude debate at the end of a specified time 
has no effect upon the proceedings until the limit fixed by the 
motion has been reached. 

As to the effects of the carrying of the motion for the Pre- 
vious Question as laid down in the Syllabus, it may be said 
that, while they are in some respects out of harmony with 
certain inexplicable and needlessly complicated effects as out- 
lined in other manuals, the procedure outlined in this Hand- 
book has the merit of simplicity and practicability, and upon 
these virtues alone is based the authority for the departure. 
To Lay on the Table. Sometimes the members of an assembly may 
not be ready to discuss a question and do not know just 
when they will be ready, or they may wish to wait for further 
information, or may prefer to clear the deck for the intro- 
duction of a more immediately important matter, and in any 
of these cases the thing can be done by making and earning 
a motion to Lay on the Table. This is one of three ways 
provided among Subsidiary motions for postponing the con- 
sideration of a question. The effect of the motion to Post- 
pone Indefinitely is to postpone a matter perpetually, and of 
the motion to Postpone to a Certain Time is to delay a matter 
to a definite time, while to Lay on the Table postpones a 
matter to an indefinite future time. Indeed, the motion to Lay 
on the Table might better have been named to Postpone In- 
definitely, while the motion that bears this name, as has been 
pointed out, might better have been called to Postpone 
Perpetually. 

Let us now, by way of review, consider how many ques- 
tions so far taken up might be pending at the same time. 
There might be, for instance, a Principal question, a proposed 
primary amendment with a proposed secondary amendment^ 



80 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

a question to Commit with primary and secondary amend- 
ments adhering, a question of postponing to a fixed time with 
primary and secondary amendments, the Previous Question 
might be called for, and a question of laying on the table. 

What, now, would be the proper procedure in dealing with 
these questions ? Well, the question to Lay on the Table 
would have to be voted on first, and if lost, the next vote 
would be on the Previous Question, and this, if lost or carried, 
would take us for the next vote to the secondary amendment 
to the motion to Postpone to a Certain Time, followed by a 
vote on the primary amendment and then on the question of 
postponement itself, or the question as amended. If to Post- 
pone to a Certain Time were lost, voting would now come on 
the amendments to the question to Commit, and then on to 
Commit itself as amended or not, followed by the vote on to 
Amend with its secondary amendment to be considered first, 
provided the question to refer to a committee had not carried. 
Finally, a vote on the Principal question or the question as 
amended would be in order. 

The student of this subject would do well at this point 
to become acquainted with the Graphic Classification of 
Motions found on page x, read the explanation on the pre- 
ceding page, and master the Key found on the following page. 
It is believed that any one with some acquaintance with parlia- 
mentary law can get the Key fairly well in mind with a few 
minutes of close study, and this done, he has it in his power to 
answer over four hundred parliamentary questions from the 
interpretation of the figures and the arrangement of motions 
on the page containing the graphic classification. Thereafter, 
with that page before him as a presiding officer, he can avoid 
most of the rocks and shoals found in parliamentary seas. 
Suspension of Rules. It is important to note that only standing 
rules and rules of order are susceptible of suspension. If the 



WITHDRAWAL OF A MOTION OR QUESTION 8 1 

reader is not clear in his mind as to what standing rules and 
rules of order are, he should turn at once to page 51. A 
motion to suspend a provision of the constitution or by-laws 
is out of order, and even if allowed to be considered and is 
carried, it is null and void. 

It is a too common practice to move to suspend, for in- 
stance, " the rule limiting debate to ten minutes, so as to 
permit Mr. Brown to speak as long as he pleases, " and to 
assume after that motion is carried that Mr. Brown now has 
the right to continue speaking. As a matter of fact, what 
was done was merely to suspend a rule, and to give a reason 
why the rule should be suspended. But Mr. Brown has not 
yet been given the right to continue speaking. So a motion 
must now be made to permit him to continue speaking, no 
rule now interfering with the making of such a motion. The 
better way is to combine the two motions into one, thus : " I 
move to suspend the rule which interferes with Mr. Brown's 
continuing to speak, and that Mr. Brown be allowed to speak 
as long as he wishes/' 
Withdrawal of a Motion or Question. We may ask for the Withdrawal 
of a motion before it has been stated by the chair, but if we wish 
to withdraw it after it has been stated by the chair, we should 
ask for the Withdrawal of the question. 

There is an old rule that a question may be withdrawn if 
the one who originally seconded the motion consents. It is 
better, however, to require that Withdrawal may be permitted 
after a motion is in possession of the assembly, that is, after 
it becomes a question, only when everybody consents, as in 
the rule given in the Syllabus. 

As to the method of objecting to a Withdrawal, all that is 
required is for a member, without obtaining the floor, to say, 
" I object," in tones loud enough for the chairman to hear. If, 
after objection is made, no one makes the motion to permit 



82 PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 

withdrawal, the question continues before the assembly for 
its consideration. Any member may make the motion to 
permit withdrawal. 

Much time may be gained by the judicious use of the right 
to withdraw or modify a motion. For instance, if remarks 
are made on a question that make it apparent to all that the 
motion should not carry, the maker may ask to withdraw his 
motion at once, and save consuming time to take a vote. Or, 
if an amendment is proposed that seems especially good, the 
maker may ask to be permitted to incorporate the amend- 
ment into his motion and save the trouble of a separate vote 
on the amendment. The use of this parliamentary practice 
should be encouraged. 
Reading of Papers. The motion for the Reading of Papers does 
not apply, of course, to the reading of questions to be acted 
on by the assembly. 

The procedure with regard to Objection is the same as that 
for Withdrawal, outlined above. 

Under the rules one is not privileged to read one's written 
speech on a question without consent of the assembly, ex- 
pressed or tacit, even though one might create greater delay 
by uncondensed and less carefully prepared oral delivery. 
Question of Consideration. Sometimes Main motions are offered 
that are trivial, puerile, absurd, or that may tend to cause 
scandal, reflect upon character, or expose confidential matters. 
In such cases any one may endeavor to prevent debate and 
a direct vote by offering an objection, without giving any 
reason. In small assemblies it is sufficient to remain seated 
and employ one of the forms suggested. In larger assem- 
blies, one would be more likely to command attention by 
rising and objecting. 

Sometimes the question as stated by the chair is, " Will 
the assembly consider the question ? " In such a case any 



QUESTIONS OF ORDER. AND APPEALS 83 

vote greater than one third would carry the question as stated. 
In other words, it takes a two-thirds vote to prevent con- 
sideration. 
Questions of Order, and Appeals. Parliamentary mistakes are often 
made both by presiding officers and by members, and the 
parliamentary procedure outlined under Questions of Order 
provides a method for correcting errors or breaches of the 
rules or practices of the assembly. 

One of the most frequently employed of parliamentary 
phrases is, " I rise to a Point of Order." The member using 
this phrase merely means by his words that, in his judgment, 
a mistake has been made, which, upon invitation by the chair, 
he proceeds to state. While the rules say that the Point of 
Order should be made just after the breach has occurred, 
yet time enough should be allowed to intervene to give the 
chairman an opportunity to make the correction on his 
" own initiative. 

The procedure outlined for indecorum in behavior and in 
debate will not often be called into use in ordinary assem- 
blies, but that for violation of rules is of frequent occurrence. 
If, for instance, the chair called for remarks on a motion to 
Lay on the Table, and the Point of Order is made that that 
motion is not debatable, then the presiding officer would say, 
n The chair stands corrected," for there could be no difference 
of opinion as to the application of the rule. The only way to 
change the matter here would be by a Suspension of Rules. 

On the other hand, if a motion is under discussion, and a 
member makes the Point of Order that the speaker is not 
confining his remarks to the motion, then the chair may decide 
the question one way or the other, for here is a chance for an 
exercise of judgment. If. now, any member disagrees with the 
expressed judgment of the chair, he may appeal from the 
decision of the chair to the judgment of the assembly. 



84 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

Let it not be overlooked that while a Point of Order is not 
debatable, yet most cases of Appeal are open to remarks, and 
that in any case the exact point in dispute should be made clear 
to the assembly before they are asked to vote on the Appeal. 

Sometimes, in order to avoid embarrassment, the chair 
invites some member to take his place until the Appeal is 
disposed of. An announcement of the result of a vote is not 
open to an Appeal, for that is not a decision of the chair, but 
a report upon the decision of the assembly. 

When a member asks the chair to say what his decision 
would be if a certain motion were made or a certain Point of 
Order were raised, the wise chairman will decline to say in 
advance, but will say that he will render a decision when the 
situation actually arises. 
To Reconsider. This motion is not used in English parliamentary 
practice but is very common in America. It is, in a sense, 
contrary to the general principle that when a proposition has 
been adopted, it must stand. There are situations, however, 
where, by reason of some after evidence, or where both the 
affirmative and the negative sentiment of the original ques- 
tion was not fully represented by the voters present, it is 
desirable to give the voters another opportunity to express 
their judgment. The requirement that the motion must be 
made by one who voted on the prevailing side (it is important 
to note that this might be either the affirmative or negative, 
whichever may have prevailed) is to the end that there may 
be evidence that at least one of the voters has changed his 
mind on the question. 

It will be noted that the privileged form of the motion 
carries its privilege only so far as the making of the motion 
is concerned, that is, in having it entered on the minutes, 
even to the extent of interrupting a speaker on the floor for 
the purpose. 



CALL FOR THE ORDER OF THE DAY 85 

In calling up this motion for consideration later, the lan- 
guage would be, " Mr. Chairman, I desire to call up the 
motion to Reconsider that has been entered on the minutes." 
The chairman will respond by directing the secretary to read 
the motion, and will then say, ''The motion is now before the 
assembly." 

In Rule No. 4 in the Syllabus the questions referred to that 
might remove the question to which they were applied from 
before the assembly are to Postpone Indefinitely, to Commit, 
to Postpone to a Certain Time, to Lay on the Table, to With- 
draw a Motion, and the Question of Consideration. 

In Rule No. 5 the Subsidiary questions referred to that 
would not remove the question to which they were applied from 
before the assembly are to Amend and the Previous Question. 

In Rule No. 6 the Incidental questions that could not have 
removed their subject from before the assembly are Suspen- 
sion of Rules, Reading of Papers, and Appeal. 

By way of illustrating Rule No. 13, let us suppose that a 
certain amendment was carried, and that the Main motion 
was also carried, but that the assembly now wishes to strike 
out the amendment. There will first have to be a motion to 
reconsider the vote on the Main question, which must carry, 
and then there must be a motion to reconsider the vote on 
the amendment. This done, the vote on the amendment 
must again be taken and the amendment defeated, followed 
by the vote now on the unamended Main motion. 
Call for the Order of the Day. This parliamentary term must not be 
confounded with the term " order of business," found in the 
constitution or by-laws of an organization. A careful study 
of the Syllabus on this matter will make clear the character 
of the Call for the Order of the Day. 

However, there might be a provision in the by-laws or in 
a standing rule of the assembly with respect to the order of 



86 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

business, giving a time limitation to some item in the order 
of business. In such a case, when the time assigned to that 
portion of the proceedings is exhausted, the method of get- 
ting to the next item in the order of business is by a Call 
for the Order of the Day, and the procedure would be that 
outlined in the Syllabus under that head. 

Question of Privilege. It is important to note carefully the object 
of this motion. Only those motions that are in some way 
preservationai of the assembly or its members may come 
under this head and are entitled to its high rank. 

The high rank given to this form of motion is, of course, 
because of its importance. If the room should begin to get 
cold, or darkness settle down upon an assembly, or any mat- 
ters of a self-preservational nature need attention, it is only 
fair that the ordinary business of the assembly should be set 
aside till proper conditions are restored. 

To Take a Recess. It often happens that an assembly wishes to 
preserve the continuity of a meeting, and yet to leave the room 
for luncheon or other temporary purpose, and the motion to 
Take a Recess accomplishes this purpose. This form of mo- 
tion may also be employed in case there is no provision for 
a reassembling of the assembly, instead of using the two 
motions to Fix a Time at Which to Reassemble and to 
Adjourn. 

To Adjourn. There is a popular notion that a motion to Adjourn 
is always in order and is never debatable, and it is important 
to note particularly the rules on these points. 

By a qualified motion to Adjourn is meant one that has 
some condition attached to it or sets a time for adjourning. 
" I move we adjourn sine die" is a qualified motion and is 
usually the form employed to close the existence of an organi- 
zation. " I move we adjourn to meet at the call of the presi- 
dent " is a qualified form often employed. 



TO ADJOURN, AND TO REASSEMBLE 87 

In mass meetings, and in organizations not having a pro- 
vision for reassembling, the simple motion, " I move we ad- 
journ," would accomplish the dissolution of the assembly, and 
it is clear, upon reflection, that the unqualified motion made 
under these conditions should be open to remarks and subject 
also to the other rules governing a Main motion. 

A motion to Adjourn made repeatedly, though it might be 
strictly in order, should be finally disregarded by the chairman 
if he is certain the motion is made merely to delay business. 

When an assembly has set a time at which it intends to 
adjourn and its business is not completed, as the time for 
adjournment approaches it is common to employ the subter- 
fuge of " stopping the clock " till the business is completed, 
and then the clock is set going and, when the hands point 
to the hour of adjournment, the meeting or session comes to 
an end. 
To Fix the Time or Place at Which to Reassemble. This motion has 
generally been called the motion to Fix the Time or Place to 
Which to Adjourn, but in this work it has been slightly 
changed for the sake of avoiding confusion as to its purpose. 

The very high rank given to this motion is apparent when 
we consider what might result if an assembly wanted to con- 
tinue its existence and no provision had been made for doing 
so up to the time of adjournment, or if it became necessary for 
an organization to change its meeting place and there had 
been no provision for doing so up to the hour of adjournment. 

When a matter of business has been postponed to a time 
other than a regular meeting time of an assembly, this motion 
affords a means of providing a meeting at the time set for 
the business postponed. 

The motion is not in order, of course, if it proposes to set 
a time for a meeting beyond the time of the next regular 
meeting, or if it proposes the usual time or place. 



88 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

Standing committees. Examples of standing committees are such 
as committees on membership, programme, auditing of ac- 
counts, etc. Much of the important work of many assemblies 
is done by committees. Faithfulness in such work brings satis- 
faction to the individual and adds very much to the efficiency 
of the organization. 

In legislative assemblies standing committees constitute 
the regular channels through which bills must pass immedi- 
ately after they are introduced and are read the second time. 
There are committees for each important class of bills, and 
the recommendation by a committee that certain bills pass, 
goes a long way toward accomplishing final adoption. 

Select, or special, committees. Suppose an organization wishes to 
have a certain matter investigated, or wishes certain tempo- 
ran* duties performed (as the decoration of the hall, etc.), or 
resolutions of condolence drawn up, etc.; these things may best 
be done by a committee appointed especially for the purpose. 
Such committees are known as select, or special, committees. 

Committee of the whole. As a parliamentary device the committee 
of the whole came into existence in the days of autocratic 
kings. At that time the speaker in Parliament had to be one 
acceptable to the king, and of course only those were approved 
for the position who would report to the sovereign the atti- 
tude of the house. 

Then it was that Parliament provided that the whole assem- 
bly should constitute a committee to consider important mat- 
ters, and. as a committee, they could elect their own chairman 
and exclude all who were not members of the committee. 

In these committees the members talked freely and voted 
without restraint, as no record was made of speech or vote, 
and at the end of the sitting prepared a report of their con- 
clusions, to be reported to themselves, sitting as a parliament 
with the king's minion again in the chair. 



WORK AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEES 89 

In our day the committee of the whole is a much-used 
method in the making of our laws. With us the people are 
sovereign, and there are members of our legislatures who 
vote and speak differently in the committee of the w T hole than 
in the regular assembly, where a record is made of speech 
and vote. But for all this, the greater freedom of discussion 
afforded in this committee fully justifies the widespread use 
of this method of procedure. 

Work of committees- A committee, being free to work without the 
restraint and " red tape " made necessary in the larger as- 
sembly, can accomplish its task more directly, and can take 
the time to work out details and think through to the end of 
difficult problems, or go upon. missions such as would be out 
of the question for the larger body. But in the doing of 
these things the committee should bear in mind that it is but 
the agent working for the organization as a whole, and that 
its sendee must be acceptable to that body. For this reason, 
papers turned over to a committee should be preserved intact, 
and any recommendations or amendments should be made 
separately, subject to acceptance or rejection by the assembly. 
The work of a committee is to get the matter referred to 
it in complete readiness, or as nearly as may be, for the 
prompt action of the assembly when the report is made. 

Reports of committees. In the study of the Syllabus on this topic, 
care should be taken to note what constitutes the report of 
the committee ; also the difference between ?rceivi?ig or hear- 
ing a report, and adopting or accepting it. Blunders are some- 
times made by a careless use of these words. 

A motion to substitute a report of a minority for that of a 
majority is really of the nature of an amendment. If the one 
in charge of the report of the minority fails to make his 
motion to substitute before a motion has been made to adopt 
the report of the committee (the report of the majority), he 



go PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

still has a chance to move to amend the report of the com- 
mittee by substituting for it the report of the minority, which 
he embodies in his amendment. 

But in receiving a report of a committee time should be 
given for a report of a minority after that of the majority has 
been heard. If, after the majority report is made, a motion is 
quickly made to adopt the report and as quickly seconded, and 
now the speaker for the minority rises to report, the chairman 
should decline to state the motion to adopt till the minority 
is heard, and then their motion to substitute should be stated 
first aiid disposed of in the regular way. 
Informal action. Informal action is sometimes illustrated in ladies' 
aid societies and has even found its way into town councils. 
Its chief characteristic is the freedom it permits in discussion 
before a motion has been made or a question stated. There 
is, of course, a certain advantage in this prediscussion as 
helping to determine the shape the motion shall assume, but 
the stricter and better way is to do this shaping by the process 
of amendment. It must be admitted, however, that the wide- 
spread use of the informal method is an evidence of its utility, 
and gives to it something of parliamentary respectability. 



PART III 

PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE 

How to study parliamentary law. Parliamentary law is an art as well 
as a science. All art is acquired by practice, for art is skill 
in doing things. Science is an orderly arrangement of funda- 
mental principles, and the principles of any science are best 
mastered if their mastery is attempted through their applica- 
tion in practice. It is then doubly true that abundant practice 
is necessary to the mastery of the intricate subject of parlia- 
mentary law. 

One of the best ways yet devised for acquiring the prin- 
ciples of parliamentary law, and facility in the practice thereof, 
is by means of the organization of a club for the purpose. 
By taking up the subject progressively and practicing only on 
the portions of the subject studied up to the time of each 
meeting, there need be no confusion, and the least experienced 
may stand equal chance with the veteran parliamentarian. 

The practice that each member gets out of his few min- 
utes of presiding at each meeting fixes his knowledge as 
nothing else can, and the discipline is of a sort that no other 
school or college exercise provides. The subject can be cov- 
ered in from thirty to fifty lessons, of forty-five minutes for 
the recitation and practice period, depending on the maturity 
of the students, and may well entitle the one who has gone over 
the work carefully to one hour's college or university credit. 

How to organize a parliamentary -law club. A group of people num- 
bering anywhere from ten to fifty (twenty-five is an ideal 

91 



92 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

number), intent upon the study of the subject of parliamen- 
tary law, can best proceed by starting out to organize a per- 
manent society. For this purpose a call should be posted, such 
as is shown on page 52. When the time arrives for the first 
meeting, follow the steps as outlined in the Parliamentary 
Syllabus, pages 3-4, and in the Parliamentary Notes, pages 
5 2 -57- 
A constitution for a parliamentary -law club. 

Preamble 

We, the undersigned, for the purpose of gaining knowl- 
edge of parliamentary law and skill in the application thereof, 
do hereby adopt the following constitution and by-laws for 
our government, and agree to abide by all the regulations of 
the same. 

Article I. Name 

This organization shall be known as . . . 

Article II. Membership 

Persons interested in the serious study of parliamentary 
law may become members of this organization by subscribing 
to this constitution. 

Article III. Officers and their Election 

Section i. The officers of this organization shall consist 
of a Referee, a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a 
Timekeeper, and a Sergeant-at-Arms. 

Section 2. The officers shall be elected as soon as con- 
venient after the adoption of this constitution, and the term 
of office for each shall be . . . weeks, after which a new set 
of officers shall be elected, and so on. Each officer will be 
expected to serve until his successor is elected and qualifies. 



PARLIAMENTARY-LAW-CLUB CONSTITUTION 93 

Section 3. All officers shall be elected by a standing vote 
of the members of the organization, and a plurality vote shall 
be necessary to elect. 

Section 4. The installation of officers shall take place 
immediately after the election of all the officers, and shall con- 
sist in an affirmation of the following question proposed by the 
retiring chairman : V Do you agree to discharge the duties of 
your respective offices faithfully, impartially, and to the best 
of your ability ? " 

Section 5. The Referee shall give parliamentary instruc- 
tion and shall decide disputed Points of Order when requested 
to do so. His duties shall be those of a teacher. 

Section 6. The President shall preside at every meeting 
and shall enforce the constitution and by-laws. He shall also 
appoint at each meeting a temporary secretary to keep the 
record of proceedings during parliamentary practice. 

Section 7. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to 
preside over the organization in the absence of the President. 

Section 8. The Secretary shall keep a neat and correct 
journal of all the proceedings of the Club, except such as may 
occur during regular parliamentary practice. He shall read 
the minutes of each meeting at each succeeding meeting, and 
shall call the roll, and shall preside in the absence of the ' 
President and Vice President. 

Section 9. The Timekeeper shall keep the time of the 
members presiding during parliamentary practice. 

Section 10. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall preserve order 
under direction of the President. 

Article IV. Meetings and Sessions 

Section i. This Club shall hold regular meetings, the 
main purpose of which shall be the pursuit of the practice of 
parliamentary law. 



94 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

Section 2. The meetings held within the period of . . . 
weeks (one administration) shall constitute a session. 

Article V. Quorum 

One third of the members of the organization shall con- 
stitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

Article VI. Amendments 

This constitution may be amended by an announcement of 

the proposed amendment and a three-fourths vote of all the 

members of the organization, the vote being taken at least a 

month after the announcement of the proposed amendment. 

By-laws for a parliamentary -law club. 

Section i. This organization shall meet regularly on . . . 
and ... of each week, at . . . o'clock, and shall ordinarily 
continue in session . . . minutes, or as nearly that period as 
may well be. By a two-thirds vote at any regular or called 
meeting the next regular meeting may be called off. 

Section 2. The following shall be the order of business, 
which shall be subject to temporary change at any meeting 
by a two-thirds vote. 

1. Call to order and roll call. 

2 . Reading, correction, and adoption of minutes of the pre- 
vious meeting. 

3. Unfinished business. 

4. Reports of committees. 

5. New business. 

6. Remarks by the Referee. 

7. Parliamentary practice. 

8. Adjournment. 

Section 3. It shall be the duty of all signers of this con- 
stitution and by-laws to spend at least . . . minutes in study 
and preparation for each meeting's parliamentary practice. 



BY-LAWS FOR A PARLIAMENTARY-LAW CLUB 95 

Section 4. The period of presiding in parliamentary prac- 
tice shall be five minutes (less than five minutes if there are 
more than twenty-five members, and more than five if there 
are fewer than fifteen members), and to this practice the 
members shall be called in turn from the roll, provided that 
absentees passed by at a previous meeting shall be first called 
to preside at each meeting. 

Section 5. In the parliamentary practice only those forms 
of parliamentary procedure shall be in order which have been 
assigned at some previous time as a class study. 

Section 6. The business taken up for parliamentary 
practice shall not change with a change of presiding officers 
(to be known as chairmen), but shall be continuous through- 
out the period of practice. 

Section 7. It shall not be binding upon the society or any 
of its members to carry into execution any order or resolution 
adopted during the period of parliamentary practice, except 
in so far as may be deemed advisable for the sake of creating 
a particular parliamentary situation. 

Section 8. It shall be the duty of members, during 
the period of parliamentary practice, to offer such motions 
and to so vote on questions as to create the most instruc- 
tive parliamentary situations, and it shall be deemed an 
offense against the organization for any member or mem- 
bers to so interfere with parliamentary practice as to cause 
said practice to degenerate into a profitless or offensive 
proceeding. 

Section 9. The rules contained in . . . shall govern the 
society in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which 
they are not inconsistent with the constitution and by-laws 
of this organization. 

Section 10. These by-laws may be amended by at least 
a week's previous announcement of the proposed amendment, 



96 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

and by a two-thirds vote of members present at a regular 
meeting thereafter. 
The first meetings after complete organization. If the organization is 
made up of those who are for the most part entirely inex- 
perienced in parliamentary matters, the first few meetings 
may well be carried on by occupying the period of parlia- 
mentary practice as a period of recitation and discussion. 
The Referee should be the most capable or experienced 
member the society possesses, and he should be the one to 
conduct these preliminary lessons. The assignment for the 
first lesson may well be all of the matter concerning officers 
and their duties found under Section II (pages 5-7) of Part I, 
together with the explanatory matter that accompanies it in 
Part II (pages 60-62). 

For the second meeting the lesson may be Sections II and 
III of Part I (pages 5-8), together with the explanatory matter 
in Part II (pages 60-62). For the third meeting take Sec- 
tions IV and V (pages 9-1 1), with the explanatory remarks in 
Part II (pages 62-64), an d for the fourth meeting take up the 
consideration of voting (pages 12-16 and 64-68). 

With the assignment of the study of the Main motion 
(pages 16-17) f° r tne fiftli lesson, that portion of the Syllabus 
and the notes bearing on the Questions of Order, or more 
particularly, the part beginning in the Syllabus with Viola- 
tions of the Rules of the Assembly (page t>Z) anc * extend- 
ing to Forms for an Appeal (page 34), with accompanying 
notes, should be included, because it will provide the means 
from the start for calling attention to errors in procedure. 
The decision of the chairman on a Point of Order should be 
accounted as final in parliamentary practice till the subject of 
Appeal is regularly reached in the course of later assignments. 
Regular parliamentary practice should now be begun. Indeed, 
with a group of people having some parliamentary experience, 



CONDUCTING PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE 97 

the first lesson assigned may well combine both the first and 
the fifth lessons suggested ; the second, both the second and the 
fifth; the third, the third and fifth; and the fourth, the fourth 
and fifth. 
How to conduct parliamentary practice. When the meeting is called 
to order at which parliamentary practice is to begin, the reg- 
ular order of business will, of course, be gone through with, 
and while the President is presiding, any form of parliamentary 
motion or procedure is in order. But when the order of busi- 
ness known as parliamentary practice is reached, and the 
members are in turn called to the chair, then only such forms 
of procedure as have previously been assigned for study are 
in order. 

Let us suppose that, for this lesson, the field for practice 
includes the matter concerning Officers, Voting by Ayes and 
Noes, Main motion, and Points of Order. Now, to get the 
most out of the practice, efforts should be made to cause the 
chairman to make mistakes. Such a course is necessary for 
the " perfection of the saints." Some one, for example, will 
say to the chairman, " Mr. Chairman, I move that the Ser- 
geant-at-Arms be instructed to provide each of the members 
with a fan." This motion is seconded and stated by the chair- 
man, and now some other member, speaking on the motion, 
declares it is absurd, and proposes a motion of his own, which, 
let us suppose, the chairman also states. A member will now 
rise and say, " Mr. Chairman, I rise to a Point of Order." 
The chairman will say, " State your point." " My Point of 
Order," says the member, M is that the chair is entertaining 
two Main motions at once, which is a violation of the first 
rule under the rules governing a Main motion." The chair 
will say : " Your point is well taken, and the motion last 
stated is not in order. Are there any remarks on the motion 
first made ? " Some member now addresses the chair and is 



98 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

recognized, and begins to talk about a fan his grandmother once 
owned. The chair will now interrupt by saying, " The gentle- 
man's remarks are not in order, as not bearing on the ques- 
tion under discussion." If the chair fails to call the speaker 
to order, another member may interrupt by saying, " Mr. 
Chairman, I call the gentleman to order on the ground that 
he is not discussing the question." The chairman may declare 
the point well taken, or he may choose to let the speaker go 
on, in which case he will say, " Your point is not well taken, 
and the speaker may proceed with his remarks." For the 
present the assembly must abide by this decision. 

Let us suppose that now this chairman's time has been 
served, and the next on the roll is called to the chair by the 
Secretary of the Club. As he comes before the assembly he 
is very apt to turn to the temporary Secretary and say, " Will 
the Secretary please tell me what the business before the 
assembly is ? " A member will now rise and say, " Mr. Chair- 
man, I rise to a Point of Order," and after the chair inquires 
what this Point of Order is, he says, " My point is that the 
chairman used a pronoun of the first person in referring to 
himself." The chairman now says : " The chair stands cor- 
rected. Will the Secretary kindly inform the chair what the 
business before the assembly is ? " 

Thus thje practice goes on, and as much is learned through 
the making of mistakes as is gained through their avoidance. 

The remaining two of the Principal motions can be taken 
up at one lesson, but their application in practice, from the 
nature of the motions, can come only while the assembly is 
under its President, and before parliamentary practice is 
reached. 
Practice on the Subsidiary motions. In taking up the Subsidiary- 
motions it will be sufficient to take them up one at a les- 
son, on account of the difficulty of mastering the details of 



PRACTICE ON THE INCIDENTAL MOTIONS 99 

precedence, and for the sake of distinctness. These always 
offer a rich field for practice, and a great deal of practice is 
necessary in order to get them thoroughly well in mind. By 
the end of the study of Subsidiary motions the student should 
be absolutely certain that he knows the list in the exact order 
in which they have been studied. 

A lesson should now be spent on the study of the figures 
in the Graphic Classification found on pages x and xi, 
together with a study of the explanation as to how to use 
the table on page ix. Remember that to one knowing how 
to interpret it, page xi will answer over 400 parliamentary 
questions. Use that page regularly in your further study of 
the subject. 

Practice on the Incidental motions. Here, as in the case of the Sub- 
sidiary motions, but one motion at a time should be taken up 
in advance. These will afford study of new matter to practice 
on, along with the practice that is to be kept up covering the 
field already traversed. It may well be urged here that every 
effort should be made to bring out all the possible new parlia- 
mentary situations under each new motion studied. Sections 
7 and 8 of the by-laws ought to be obeyed to the letter in 
order to get the most out of your parliamentary practice. Up 
to the time the matter of taking an Appeal is reached, the 
members have no recourse when they disagree with the deci- 
sion of the chairman ; but from this time on there will come 
the opportunity to set the chairman right, if the majority feel 
that he has made a wrong decision. The motion to Recon- 
sider is undoubtedly the most complicated of all parliamentary 
forms, and more than one lesson may profitably be spent 
on it. 

Practice on Privileged motions. Here, too, it will be sufficient to take 
one motion at a lesson. By the time the twentieth parlia- 
mentary motion is reached the student should know the list 



IOO PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

completely from beginning to end, as given. Moreover, he 
should know so well the forms of those motions that are 
peculiar as to their language that his mouth and larynx will, 
of their own accord, proceed with the right words while he 
himself is collecting his wits as to what to do next. One 
should become an automaton as to these things. Practice 
will do it. 

Practice on committee work. After the detailed study of motions is 
completed, time enough should be spent on committee work 
to bring out all the points in the three kinds of committees. 
Quite a little practice should be given to work in the committee 
of the whole, as this is the kind of committee work in which 
the best part of our lawmaking is done in Congress and in 
our state legislatures. Take particular pains to illustrate the 
proper handling of a minority report of a committee. 

Work on the review questions. The student who can answer from 
his certain knowledge each one of the hundred review ques- 
tions found at the end of this book may account himself 
something of a parliamentarian. The student who cannot do 
so should seek the first opportunity to go over the whole 
subject again. Indeed, it is the uniform testimony that the 
student gets more out of a second going over than out of the 
first, and the whole subject is made more completely a part 
of his intellectual anatomy. 

To close a term's practice. Nothing more fitting can be found for a 
final parliamentary exercise than a sitting of a legislative body 
or the holding of a presidential nominating convention. If 
the former is decided upon, a book of the rules of Congress 
can usually be obtained by applying to a congressman, and 
from it the directions can be found for conducting such a 
sitting ; or if a state legislature is preferred, the " Blue 
Book " of the state can usually be gotten from a state sena- 
tor or representative, or from the secretary of state. 



TO CLOSE A TERM'S PRACTICE ioi 

If it is a nominating convention that is agreed upon, this 
manual gives the general directions (page 59), and further 
details can be found in the files of the newspapers of the time 
of the most recent preceding convention of the party it is 
voted to represent. 

For a successful convention or legislative sitting it is desir- 
able to have all the details of procedure pretty completely 
worked out beforehand, and the specific work of each mem- 
ber should be thoroughly understood. 






PART IV 

PARLIAMENTARY RECREATIONS 

ONE HUNDRED REVIEW QUESTIONS 

i . What is parliamentary law ? 

2. Give the origin of the term " parliamentary." 

3. What is the ultimate authority in parliamentary law ? 

4. State the four fundamental principles of parliamentary 

law. 

5. What is the great purpose of parliamentary law ? 

6. Give differences between rules of order and standing rules. 

7. How do a mass meeting, a permanent society, and a repre- 

sentative assembly differ in character ? 

8. What is meant by a " call " for a meeting ? 

9. State the principal steps in the organization of a permanent 

society. 

10. Distinguish between constitutioii and by-laws. 

1 1 . What is the difference between a meeting and a session ? 

12. Give some characteristics of a good presiding officer. 

13. Why should a chairman not use pronouns of the first person 

in referring to himself ? 

14. Name the special case in which a chairman has a right to 

discuss a question before the house. 

15. What are the "minutes," and what should they contain? 

16. Enumerate the qualities of a good recording officer. 

17. Give some characteristics of a good member of an organi- 

zation. 

102 



ONE HUNDRED REVIEW QUESTIONS 103 

18. How may an assembly deal with an incompetent or dishonest 

chairman ? 

19. What is meant by the phrase " to obtain the floor " ? 

20. What title is usually given a chairman in religious assemblies ? 

2 1 . How should a married lady who is presiding be addressed ? 

an unmarried lady ? a lady whose matrimonial status one 
does not happen to know ? 

22. Of several members seeking to obtain the floor at the same 

time, whom shall the chairman recognize first ? 

23. Under what conditions may one who has obtained the floor 

be made to yield it ? 

24. What are the parliamentary forms that do not require 

seconding ? 

25. Give a case other than the illustration on page 63, in which 

the method of " common consent " may well be employed 
for the transaction of business. 

26. What is meant by the phrase " to debate a question " ? 

27. Why should not the maker of a motion be permitted to 

speak against it ? 

28. Name and describe the various methods of voting. 

29. Why not appeal from the decision of the chair when he 

reports a vote different from what you think ought to 
be reported ? 

30. Distinguish between a plurality and a majority vote. 

31. How might a single vote for a motion carry the motion 

unanimously ? 

32. Under what conditions has a chairman a right to vote? 

33. What is the necessity for a quorum requirement ? 

34. Distinguish between a motion, a question, and a resolution 

or order. 

35. What are Principal motions? Subsidiary motions? Inci- 

dental motions ? Privileged motions ? 

36. What is the purpose of a Main motion? 



104 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

3 7 . What is the status of a resolution or order that is contrary to 
the constitution, by-laws, rules of order, or standing rules ? 

38. State the difference in the purpose of a motion to Rescind 

and one to Expunge. 

39. Can you properly pronounce and define the word " pre- 

cedence ? " 

40. What is the difference between a pending question and an 

immediately pending question ? 

41. Give examples of hostile and of nongermane amendments, 

other than those found on pages 75-76. 

42. Before the house is the question, " That we purchase a 

bust of Lincoln for our hall," and it is proposed to amend 
" by requiring that it shall be a bronze bust." How will 
you as chairman treat this amendment ? 

43. What is the effect of laying an amendment on the table ? 

44. What is the difference between the common and the tech- 

nical significance of the phrase v previous question " ? 

45. How would you proceed temporarily to secure speeches not 

to exceed five minutes in length in an assembly usually 
allowing ten-minute discussions ? 

46. Distinguish the effects of orders to Postpone Indefinitely, to 

Postpone to a Certain Time, and to Lay on the Table. 

47. Give illustrations of the two forms of the motion to Suspend 

the Rules other than those given on page 81. 

48. What classes of rules may be suspended by a motion to 

Suspend ? 

49. Why require a two-thirds vote instead of a majority vote for 

carrying the question to Suspend ? 

50. How may the privilege of withdrawing or modifying a mo- 

tion or question often be used to expedite business ? Give 
an illustration of your own. 

5 1 . If a member, speaking on a question, desires to read quota- 

tions from a book and objection is made, what shall be 
the procedure ? 



ONE HUNDRED REVIEW QUESTIONS 105 

52. Is it in order to object to the consideration of a question to 

Amend ? to Reconsider ? a Main question ? 

53. What is the purpose of objecting to the consideration of a 

question ? 

54. What is the proper procedure for dealing with an unruly 

member ? 

55. When and how may a member be called to account for in- 

dulging in offensive personal remarks while speaking on 
a question ? 

56. A question to Suspend the Rules has just been voted on, 

there being 1 2 for and 1 o against, and it is declared car- 
ried by the chair, and the Point of Order is made that it 
takes a two-thirds vote to carry this question. The chair 
now rules that the point is not well taken. What should 
be done next ? 
5 7 . Give an original illustration of a case where an Appeal from 
a decision of the chairman may properly be taken. 

58. Are there likely to be more cases where an Appeal is de- 

batable than where it is not ? 

59. Why require a motion to Reconsider to be made by one 

who voted on the prevailing side ? 

60. What is the reason for the high privilege given to a 

request to have entered on the minutes a motion to 
Reconsider ? 

6 1 . Why should not any one but the maker call up a motion to 

Reconsider on the day it was entered on the minutes ? 

62. Why should it not be in order to move to reconsider a vote 

on a motion to Adjourn ? on an affirmative vote on to 
Lay on the Table ? 

63. How should the question of the correct time of day be 

decided in case of a Call for the Order of the Day ? 

64. What are the differences between a General Order and a 

Special Order ? 



106 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

65. When an Order of the Day has been disposed of, what busi- 

ness is next in order ? 

66. Why is the following motion not one of privilege ? u As a 

Question of Privilege I move that the Main question be 
stated again by the chairman." 

67. After studying the Diagrammatic Classification of Motions 

on page XII, tell how a Question of Privilege differs 
from other Privileged questions. 

68. What conditions might make a motion to Take a Recess 

preferable to a motion to Adjourn after having provided 
a time for reassembling ? 

69. What are the points of difference between the rules govern- 

ing the motion to Take a Recess and those governing the 
unqualified motion to Adjourn ? 

70. When is a qualified motion to Adjourn in order? 

71. Is an unqualified motion to Adjourn always in order? Is it 

ever debatable ? 

72. If a state legislature should agree on adjournment, say at 

twelve o'clock, noon, April 3, and their work could not be 
completed by that time, what would probably occur ? 

73. Why should so high a rank be given to the motion to Fix a 

Time at Which to Reassemble ? 

74. Why is a motion to Fix a Time at Which to Reassemble 

not in order that sets a time beyond the time of the next 
regular meeting ? 

75. What advantages come from employing the parliamentary 

device of committees ? 

76. Distinguish between a standing and a special committee. 

77. Describe the organization of a committee of the whole. 

78. What advantages come to an assembly sitting as a com- 

mittee of the whole over their sitting in regular session ? 

79. If a committee has several different reports, what constitutes 

the report of the committee ? 



ONE HUNDRED REVIEW QUESTIONS 107 

80. Give the procedure necessary to make the report of a minor- 

ity of a committee the work of the assembly. 

81. How might the practice, in small assemblies, of discussing 

a proposition before making a motion be still carried on 
in a parliamentary fashion ? 

82. Give the list of twenty parliamentary motions rapidly from 

memory. 

83. What questions are never debatable? What are always 

debatable ? 

84. What questions may not be amended ? 

85. To what questions may all Subsidiary motions be applied? 

86. To what questions may no Subsidiary motions be applied ? 

87. About what should be the language of the chairman corre- 

sponding to each of the following expressions ? 
" I object to the consideration of the question." 
" I appeal from the decision of the chair." 
" I rise to a Point of Order." 
" I move the Previous Question." 
" I call for the Order of the Day." 
" I call the member to order." 

88. Look carefully through the effects of the various Subsidiary 

questions when lost, and state the general condition under 
which a Subsidiary motion may be renewed. 

89. What are the questions on which the votes may not be 
reconsidered ? 

90. Do you discover any rule or rules that apply to all the Sub- 
sidiary motions ? 

91. Are there any points of common agreement among the 
Incidental motions ? 

92. What questions require a two-thirds vote to carry? 

93. What questions may be laid on the table ? 

94. When a question is laid on the table, how may it be taken 

up again ? 



108 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

95. What original observations have you made concerning quali- 

ties that are found in a good presiding officer ? 

96. How would you go about deciding procedure in a parlia- 

mentary situation for which you could find no rule of 
order ? 

97. Have you discovered points wherein you think common 

usage in parliamentary law could be improved ? 

98. What advantages come from a knowledge of parliamentary 

law? 

99. What advantages come from practice in presiding over a 

parliamentary assembly ? 

100. Translate: }| rk f*% A tl O B T 



INDEX 



Accepting report of committee, 
49, 89 

Acclamation, electing by, 14 

Adjourn (qualified motion), 43, 86 ; 
sine die, 43, 86 ; (unqualified 
motion), 43, 86 

Adjourned meeting, 4, 7, 54 

Adopting a report of a committee, 
49, 89 

Amend, motion to, 19, 74; by ad- 
dition, 19; by division, 19, 76; 
by elimination, 19; by substitu- 
tion, 19 

Amending constitution and by- 
laws, 21, 57, 58 

Appeal, 31, 34, 83 

Assemblies and their organization, 

Assigning the floor, 9 

Authority in parliamentary law, 

5^95 

Ayes and noes, 13, 66 

Ballot, 12, 64, 65 
Be in order, 70 
By-laws, 51, 56, 57, 94 

Call, for a meeting, 4, 52 ; for the 
Order of the Day, 38, 85 ; of the 
house, 16, 69 



Calling, a member to order, 32 ; an 
assembly to order, 3, 52 ; for a 
division, 12, 65 ; the roll, 7, 94 

Candidates, 14, 53 

Carry a question, 71 

Chairman, 5 

Clerk, 7 

Closing a term of parliamentary 
practice, 100 

Commit, motion to, 21, 76 

Committee of the whole, 46, 88 

Committees, 45 

Common consent, 10. 6^ 

Conducting parliamentary prac- 
tice, 96, 97 

Constitution, 51, 55, 57, 92 

Conventions, 59, 101 

Credentials, 5, 59 

Debate, 10, 6^ 

Delegates, 4, 59 

Diagram of parliamentary 

motions, xii 
Divide a question, 19 
Division, 12, 65 
Duties of members, 8, 62 
Duties of officers, 5, 7 



Election, 14 
Eligibility, 8 



109 



no 



PARLIAMENTARY LAW 



Enter on minutes a motion *^o Re- 
consider, 35 
Entertain a motion, 70 
Expunge, motion to, 17, 73 

Filling blanks, 19 

First meeting, 3, 52, 96 

Fix Time at Which to Adjourn, 

43 

Fix Time or Place for Reassem- 
bling, 44, 87 

Floor of the house, 9 

General order, 38 
General rules for voting, 14, 6y 
Germane amendment, 20, 76 
Government of committees, 45, 

46, 88 
Graphic classification of motions, x 

Hearing a report, 49, 89 
Holding the floor, 10 
Hostile amendment, 20, 75 
How to study parliamentary law, 91 

Immediately pending question, 70 
Inauguration of officers, 3, 4, 53, 

93 
Incidental motions, 27, 71, 99 
Indecorum in behavior, 31 
Indecorum in debate, 32 
Informal action, 50, 90 
Introduction of business, 9, 62 

w Jefferson's Manual," 52 
Journal, 7, 93 

Key to graphic classification, xi 
Kinds of committees, 45, 88 



Lay on Table, motion to, 25, 79 
Limiting debate, 24, 78 

Main motion, 16, 72 

Majority vote, 67 

Make a motion, 70 

Mass meeting, 3, 52 

Meeting, 58 

Membership, 8 

Methods of introducing business, 9 

Methods of voting, 1 2 

Minority report, 49, 89 

Minutes, 7, 61, 66 

Moderator, 5 

Motions, 9, 16, 70, 71 

Naming a member, 31 
Nominations, 14, 20, 53, 67 

Objection to Consideration of a 
Question, 30 

Obtaining the floor, 9, 62 

Officers, 5 

Order, 7 1 ; general, 38 ; of busi- 
ness, 58; of the day, 38, 85; 
special, 39 

Organization, of assemblies, 52, 55, 
59 ; of committees, 45, 46 

Parliament, 51, 77 
Parliamentary inquiry, 5, 84 
Parliamentary law, 51, 91 
Parliamentary-law club, 91, 92, 94 
Parliamentary notes, 51 
Parliamentary practice, 91, 95, 96, 

97 
Parliamentary recreations, 102 
Parliamentary syllabus, 3 
Pending question, 70 
Permanent officers, 5 



INDEX 



III 



Permanent organization, 3, 5, 55 
Plurality vote, 67 
Point of Order, 33, 83 
Postpone Indefinitely, 18, 73 
Postpone to a Certain Time, 22, 77 
Precedence of motions, 72, 76 
President, 5, 93 
Presiding officer, 5, 60 
Previous Question, 23, 77 
Principal motions, 16, 71 
Privileged form of motion to Re- 
consider, 35 
Privileged motions, 38, 71, 99 
Purpose of parliamentary law, 52 
Putting a question, 12, 13, 70 

Question, 70; of Consideration, 30, 
S2; of Order, 31, 83; of Privi- 
lege, 40, 86 

Questions on parliamentary law, 
102 

Quorum, 15, 6S, 94 

Reading of Papers, 29, 82 
Receive a report, 49, 90 
Recess, motion to Take a, 42 
Recognizing a member, 9 
Recommit, motion to, 21 
Reconsider, motion to, 35, 84 
Recording officer, 7, 61 
Refer, motion to, 21 
Referee, 93 
Repeal, motion to, 17 
Report of a committee, 48, 89 
Representative assembly, 4 
Rescind, motion to, 17, 73 
Resolution, 71 
Review questions, 102 
Rights of members, 8, 62 



Rise, motion to, 47 

Rise to a Point of Order, 33, 83 

Rising vote, 12, 65 

Rules of order, 51, 58 

Second a motion, 9, 70 

Secondary motions, iS, 71, 98 

Secretary, 7, 93 

Select committees, 46, 88 

Selection of a committee, 45 

Sergeant-at-Arms, 8, 93 

Session, 58 

Simple assembly, 3 

Sine die, 43, 86 

Speaker, 5 

Special committee, 46, 88 

Special Order, 39 

Standing committee, 45, S8 

Standing rules, 51 

State a motion, 70 

Subsidiary motions, 18, 71, 98 

Suspension of Rules, 27, 80 

Take a Question from the Table, 25 
Take a Recess, motion to, 42, 86 
Tellers, 12, 64 
Temporary chairman, 55 
Temporary organization, 55 
Temporary secretary, 55 
Tie vote, 68 
Timekeeper, 93 
Treasurer, 8 
Two-thirds vote, 68 

Unanimous consent, 10 
Unfinished business, 94 

Vice president, 8 
Violation of rules, 33 



112 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 

Viva voce voting, 13 Withdrawal of a Motion or Ques- 

Vote of the chairman, 6, 68 tion, 28, 81 

Voting, 12; for candidates, 14; Work of committees, 48, 88 
general rules for, 14, 6y ; meth- 
ods of, 12, 64, 65, 66; special Yea-and-nay vote, 13, 66 
rules for, 12, 13 Yield the floor, 10 

Voting signs, 13 Yield to a motion, 72 



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